Bob Kolar is the author/illustrator of several books, including Do You Want to Play? and Racer Dogs. He also illustrated AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First by Alethea Kontis, which won the NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Award. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
PreS-K-Biggie Bear's soccer-playing friends appear at his doorstep with a size XXL shirt, begging him to join them, since Brown Dog has fleas and can't play. Biggie is a jazz fan who collects stamps, but his lack of experience on the field takes a backseat to the fact that he looks good in the team color. Despite his athletic shortcomings, the score is tied until the bear bends over to grasp a rare stamp on the ground and heads the ball into the net for the winning goal. Biggie returns to the field after that, but always as an enthusiastic fan. Kolar's soccer story is just rollicking enough for listeners, despite the stereotypical minor characters-Smelly Smell Skunk, Scared Rabbit, Twirly Squirrel, etc. The large format facilitates sharing the book with groups. Digital cartoons of rounded figures with exaggerated features are brightly hued and presented in detailed scenes that are balanced with less complex spreads. This simple tale that encourages trying things out of one's comfort zone will capture prospective players too young or wiggly for longer reads like Jonathan London's Froggy Plays Soccer (Viking, 1999).-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
A very strong story combines with delightful digital artwork that is vibrant without being garish and simple without being simplistic. This also has a great message about being yourself yet still finding ways to fit in. * Booklist *
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