As the subtitle of, Good Sports states, this children's poetry book by Jack Prelutsky contains rhymes about running, jumping, throwing and more. Through his poetry, Prelutsky celebrates winning and losing, playing well and not paying well, and enjoying a sport whether you are good at it or not.
Good Sports: The Poems by Jack Prelutsky
In Good Sports, Jack Prelutsky includes poems about baseball, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, football, Frisbee, ice skating, running, roller skating, softball, and karate. The poems have an infectious rhythm to them. While the poems are short, Prelutsky captures the excitement and drama of sports, both competitive sports and non-competitive. He also celebrates the enjoyment that comes even to those who don't play well. Much of the poetry is humorous, some is philosophical, and some is downright exuberant.Good Sports: The Illustrations by Chris Raschka
Artist Chris Raschka captures the young sports enthusiasts' emotions, movement and action expressed in the poetry with his illustrations in watercolors and ink. His artwork is a curious mixture, both childlike and sophisticated. Raschka uses a sophisticated color palette that emphasizes strong blues, orange, yellow, and chartreuse. The faces of the children in his artwork reveal a wide range of feelings. The artwork also seems somewhat childlike in that the figures pictured are disproportionate, with extra-long arms and big heads, and look, at first glance, as if a child drew them. The result is illustrations that not only complement each poem but also cause the reader to take a second (and third) look at them because they are so filled with wit, humor, emotion, and action.The Author and Illustrator: Jack Prelutsky and Chris Raschka
In 2006, the Poetry Foundation awarded Jack Prelutsky the honor of being the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate. As the children’s Poet Laureate, Prelutsky is serving a two-year appointment and received a $25,000 cash award. Prelutsky is the author of more than 20 books of poetry for children as well as several anthologies. Children delight in his funny poems as well as his scary poems. Recent books include Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems and The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom. The audio book version of Prelutsky's The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders, a big favorite at our house, reveals his talent as both a poet and a folksinger.This is not the first poetry book that artist Chris Raschka has illustrated. Others include A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms and A Poke in the Eye: A Book of Concrete Poems. Chris Raschka has illustrated more than 20 children's books, including Yo! Yes?, a 1993 Caldecott Honor Book and The Hello, Goodbye Window, the 2006 Caldecott Medal winner. Other books he's illustrated include I Pledge Allegiance and A Child's Christmas in Wales.
Good Sports: My Recommendation
This would be a particularly good poetry book for boys and girls who love sports but haven't been much engaged by poetry. I recommend Good Sports for children 8-12 to read on their own and as a read-aloud for children 6-12. (Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. ISBN: 9780375837005)
