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The Ball Hogs
Cover of The Ball Hogs
The Ball Hogs
The Ball Hogs
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Introducing a soccer series for new readers
Kickers #1
Nine-year-old Ben is brand-new to soccer, but he's a good athlete and knows he'll do well on the Bobcats, his team in the local Kickers soccer league. If he can only work around his obnoxious teammate Mark, the ball hog, Ben is sure he'll score his first goal. But Coach Patty, and Ben's own teammates, show him a little something about teamwork. And suddenly it dawns on him: he's a ball hog, too. Can he change his ways before the Bobcats lose their shot at the Kickers play-offs?
Award-winning sports novelist Rich Wallace introduces the Kickers soccer series, filled with lively black-and-white art and fast-paced, on-the-field action.
Introducing a soccer series for new readers
Kickers #1
Nine-year-old Ben is brand-new to soccer, but he's a good athlete and knows he'll do well on the Bobcats, his team in the local Kickers soccer league. If he can only work around his obnoxious teammate Mark, the ball hog, Ben is sure he'll score his first goal. But Coach Patty, and Ben's own teammates, show him a little something about teamwork. And suddenly it dawns on him: he's a ball hog, too. Can he change his ways before the Bobcats lose their shot at the Kickers play-offs?
Award-winning sports novelist Rich Wallace introduces the Kickers soccer series, filled with lively black-and-white art and fast-paced, on-the-field action.
Available formats-
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB eBook
Languages:-
Copies-
  • Available:
    1
  • Library copies:
    1
Levels-
  • ATOS:
    3.7
  • Lexile:
    540
  • Interest Level:
    LG
  • Text Difficulty:
    2 - 3


Excerpts-
  • From the book CHAPTER ONE  
    Like a Real Player    
    "That kid is fast!" Ben said as a tall, thin boy ran across the soccer field.   "He sure is," said Erin. "I hope he's on our team."   "He must be," said Ben. "Why else would he be here?"   But Ben hoped that the kid was not on their team. He had seen him at recess during school. Ben knew the kid's name was Mark, and he was a pain, and bossy. Once he'd called Ben "brush head" after his mom had cut his hair.   But Ben liked his hair the new way. When it was longer, it would always get in his eyes.   Ben put his foot on top of his soccer ball and rolled it around. "Let's practice," he said. He gave the ball a kick and it rolled toward Erin.   Erin kicked at the ball, but it didn't go to Ben. It spun over to the side.   Ben ran toward the ball, but the tall kid got to it first. He stopped it with his foot and grinned at Ben. But Ben didn't like the way he was smiling. He looked tough. He was big for nine.   "Are you one of the Bobcats?" Mark asked.   "Yes," Ben said. "So is she." Ben nodded toward Erin, who was walking over.   "I hope you're good at dribbling," Mark said. "You're both kind of short. Especially her." Mark pointed at Erin. She was a few inches shorter than Mark, but she was a good athlete.   Ben stepped between Mark and Erin. "This is our first time playing on a soccer team," he said. "We don't know if we're good at it or not."   "Well, I'm good," Mark said. "I'll be the star of this team."   Ben looked at Erin and smiled. He felt nervous and didn't know what else to do. Practice hadn't even started yet, and Mark was already acting like a big shot.   A woman in a green T-shirt blew a whistle. "Over here, Bobcats," she said. "I'm your coach."   Eight kids ran toward the woman, who was carrying a net bag filled with soccer balls. "Have any of you ever played soccer?" she asked.   Several of the kids raised their hands.   "On a real team?" she asked.   Most of the kids put their hands down.   "That's okay," she said. "I've never coached a real team, either."   Mark's hand shot up again. "I was on a baseball team last summer," he said. "I was the best player."   "That's good," the woman said. "My name is Patty. I played soccer in high school, but that was a long time ago. We'll all have fun learning about the game together."   The Kickers League would include kids from all over town. Ben knew most of the players on his team from Kennedy Elementary School, but some of them went to Washington Elementary, on the other side of town.   Coach Patty opened the bag and handed out balls. Ben kept his own ball, which had been a present for his ninth birthday.   "Let's have a race," Coach said. "See that white line on the far end of the field? When I blow my whistle, we'll all run to that line. The winner is the one who gets there first, but you have to have your ball with you. And the only way you can move theball is with your feet."   They set their soccer balls on the ground.   "I'll win by a mile," said Mark.   Patty blew the whistle. Ben kicked his ball and ran after it, trying to keep it in a straight line. It wasn't easy. He kicked it a little more softly, then ran to it and kicked it again.   Mark was way ahead of the others. He had kicked his ball far up the field and was running after it at full speed.   Ben kept moving, kicking his ball a little at a time and then catching up to it. He knew he could run a lot faster, but it was tricky to keep the ball close to him.   Ben's last kick left the ball just over the line. He pulled it back with one foot and stood on the...
About the Author-
  • Rich Wallace is the acclaimed author of many books for young readers, including Wrestling Sturbridge, an ALA-YALSA Best of the Best Book for Young Adults; Shots on Goal, a Booklist Top 10 Sports Book for Youth; Perpetual Check; and the Winning Season series. He coached soccer for several years, beginning when his older son joined a team in kindergarten.
    Rich Wallace lives in New Hampshire with his wife, author Sandra Neil Wallace. You can visit him on the Web at www.richwallacebooks.com.
Reviews-
  • Publisher's Weekly

    June 14, 2010
    Centered on a coed fourth-grade soccer team, the Kickers series starts up with a novel that delivers a worthwhile if belabored message about teamwork. Though Ben hasn’t played on a soccer team before, he is determined to outshine bossy, boastful Mark, who at the first Bobcats practice announces, “I’ll be the star of this team.” Ben soon realizes that he is as much of a ball hog as Mark is, and Wallace (the Winning Season series) bluntly spells out the solution to that compound problem: “ knew that the best chance the Bobcats had to win a game would be if he and Mark could somehow work together.” A less lively parallel drama about fair play and inclusion plays out at the schoolyard, where Ben and his classmates work out their differences during games of four square. Those scenes drag, though the soccer action propels the rest of the story, which has an unsurprising yet heartening finale. The second installment, Fake Out, arrives in August. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–10.

  • School Library Journal

    September 1, 2010

    Gr 3-5-In Ball Hogs, which centers on teamwork, fourth-grader Ben plays soccer with his nemesis, Mark, whose consistently arrogant remarks irritate everyone on the team. Eventually an argument between the two boys over a four-square game during recess brings realistic emotions to a head. Ben and Mark begin to examine their behavior, bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion. In the second book, Ben learns to concentrate on learning some new skills, yet to be patient with himself when he makes an inevitable mistake. Pen-and-ink illustrations augment the enjoyment of the short chapters. Each title concludes with soccer tips for novices. Readers who look for play-by-play action will relish these beginning chapter books.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

    Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

  • Booklist

    May 15, 2010
    Grades 2-4 Like his friend and Bobcat teammate Erin, Ben has never played soccer before, but he enjoys the practices and learns fast. However, he doesnt enjoy playing with Mark, whose big mouth and inflated ego make him easy to dislike. Their animosity spills over onto the four-square court at recess before they begin to see the value of passing in soccer and (no coincidence) the Bobcats begin to score goals. A good sports story for younger readers, this beginning chapter book balances bits of information about playing the game with realistic scenes on the field, at home, and at school. An effective subplot portrays Bens shifting emotions and ethical dilemma after a friend is excluded from their regular four-square group. Beginning with tiny portraits of the team roster, lively black-and-white drawings illustrate the story. The book concludes with advice on practicing and playing the game in Bens Top Tips for Soccer Players. A promising start for the Kickers series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

  • The Horn Book

    July 1, 2010
    Ben is bummed when cocky Mark joins his soccer team. Though Ben criticizes Mark for hogging the ball, Ben himself has much to learn about teamwork. Lively banter among nine-year-olds and soccer fundamentals from Coach Patty, along with Bens Top Tips for Soccer Players, make this easy-to-read sports novel both believable and instructive. Lively gray-scale pictures illustrate events.

    (Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

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    Random House Children's Books
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