Get a Hit, Mo!

December 1, 2015
In this tale of overcoming odds, Mo Jackson, the youngest, smallest player on his Little League team, is excited about helping the Lions to a win. Will he be the hero? Or will he strike out? "One more strike and the game is over. People are standing. People are cheering." Adler zeroes in on that crucial last-inning, last-out opportunity to bring the runners home, overcome the deficit on the scoreboard, and become the most unlikely team hero. The odds are predictably insurmountable. The team places him in right field because "no balls ever come to right field." Offensively, Mo has already struck out twice before in the same game. Coach Marie stands across from Mo at the plate, shouting something readers never find out but can only imagine to be "Swing!" Mo turns to hear her better, and the bat turns too. Crack! Such a fortuitous accident leaves everyone confused, including Mo--there's nothing to do but run! His teammates on base break for home and tap the plate just in the nick of time. The text is appropriately simple, yet Adler cunningly coaxes emerging readers to use their understanding of narrative conventions and their prediction skills to make savvy inferences. African-American Mo and his multiethnic, mixed-gender, woman-coached team make for a nicely inclusive read. This second in the Mo Jackson series is a home run for the home team of early readers. (Early reader. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2015

Gr 1-3-Mo Jackson is a little kid with a big love for baseball. Unfortunately, he is smaller and younger than the rest of the players on his team, the Lions. When Coach Marie assigns the batting order, Mo bats last (usually the spot for the weakest hitter). When she assigns field positions, Mo gets right field (few balls ever go to right field). As the opposing team scores two runs, Mo worries that he will not get a hit. A brown-skinned boy with curly locks that peek out from under his helmet, Mo strikes out his first two times at bat. In the ninth inning with two outs, people are cheering and Coach Marie is shouting. When he turns to hear what she is saying, Mo accidentally hits the ball. The ball then rolls past the pitcher and keeps on rolling, bringing in Mo and the two other players who are on base. In an ending that is neither original nor a surprise, Mo's home run wins the game; even the youngest baseball-playing reader is going to wonder how a slight tap of the bat propelled the ball to roll far enough to bring in three runs. The illustrations are fun with good use of color and perspective, and they depict a multicultural lineup. VERDICT An additional purchase for beginning reader collections.-Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2016
Grades 1-3 Aimed at younger independent readers, Adler's latest features a boy who turns out to be the youngest and smallest player on his baseball team, the Lions. Mo is introduced at home as he is practicing his swing (using a carrot as his bat) and looking forward to the game ahead. His confidence dips once he gets to the field and sees that he's batting last (as usual) and playing right field (where nothing ever seems to happen). Adler's text is clear and straightforward, as the Lions and the Bears proceed to battle it out, and Ricks' illustrations nicely capture Mo's expressions as he experiences the thrills and agonies of his baseball game. Although he is nervous under pressure, Mo is supported and encouraged by his teammates and (female) coach, and the end is happy: a lucky break has him leading his team to victory. A fine introduction to the wonderful world of baseball stories.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)