Sport-O-Rama

January 15, 2015
Illustrator Tardif's picture-book debut is a collection of terms related to 23 different sports, all illustrated with stylized people, brilliant colors and a touch of humor. Unfortunately, eye-catching though the graphics are, they are not always particularly communicative. At times, it is unclear what is being labelled in the pictures. For example, on the spread devoted to fencing, a competitor's white bodysuit is divided without comment into eight regions-"tierce," "quinte," etc.-leaving readers to wonder exactly what the point is. In the judo entry, two opponents face each other (they either have shoulders in the centers of their torsos or they are holding pool noodle-like objects); the label reads simply "kumi kata." A red card and a yellow card are depicted on the soccer pages but not explained. (These last three are defined in the glossary but not the mysterious "lame" in the fencing entry.) Dialogue balloons help readers decode some activities or show competitive spirit: The speed skater calls out "Catch me if you can!" But at other times, it's as though the author is just yelling "Squirrel!" A "real alligator" on a green results in an "unplayable ball," and an "impressed bird" says "Wow!" at the height of the pole vaulter. A lover of sports in childhood, Tardif explains in his author's note that his illustrating leaves little time for sports, but he enjoys drawing while watching hockey on TV. Maybe he was distracted? While readers will be introduced to sports they may never have heard of before (rowing, cricket), the rudimentary entries will likely leave them frustrated rather than intrigued. (Informational picture book. 3-7)

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June 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Posterlike depictions of 23 sports, rendered in a few basic colors, comprise Tardif's foray into informational picture books aimed at young children, which was originally published in French. The author's humor abounds on nearly every page, and though the structure is simple, there's tons to notice, from speech bubbles in the basketball section reading, "Just try to get by me!" to the athlete in football garb described as a "very hefty player." What sets this title apart from others is the inclusion of sports with which many children are less familiar, such as cricket, horseback riding, and sailing. The fencing section includes French terminology, for example, en garde and touche. There's also a "Halftime" section, a change-of-pace spread where readers are invited to search for items such as a referee whistle and a trophy. The book ends with two-page descriptions of each sport. VERDICT Older ESL students might benefit from looking for familiar sports and using the corresponding English vocabulary words along with the picture clues. Otherwise, this offering probably won't have repeated readings.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

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February 15, 2015
Preschool-G Montreal illustrator Tardif offers up an intro to sports for the littlest kids that is both straightforwardly educational and guilelessly lighthearted. By description, it sounds rather mundane: 23 two-page spreads introduce 23 sports, not with written descriptions about what the sport is or how it plays (although that info can be found in the back matter) but rather with illustrated snapshots and labels. No, it doesn't make perfect sense in isolation, but it should work gangbusters for a child who has observed, or is observing, the sport in question. Take, for example, the spread on gymnastics. Simple, childlike figures in bright primary colors are bent like Gumbys over objects labeled pommel horse, parallel bars, and balance beam. But also included are odd details, some factual (a wrapped palm labeled grip ) and others quirky (a nervous smile upon a gymnast). A Halftime breaks the pattern with a quick search-and-find; then it's on to a whole Olympics-load of more sports: hockey, judo, marathon, and so on. Everyone wins!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
From badminton to volleyball, this wordbook introduces twenty-three sports with instructive labeling. "Marathon" identifies terms such as "runners," "start line," and "bib." Tardif's colorful, graphic illustrations also include touches of humor--a golf ball in an alligator's mouth is an "unplayable ball"--and their stylization gives this elementary sports starter a fresh look. Short descriptions of each sport and a glossary are included.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)