Fox Plays Ball

by Corey R. Tabor, Corey R. Tabor (Illustrator)

Overview

School Library Journal Best Books of 2024

The mischievous and fun-loving Fox is back in another humorous and surprising I Can Read, from Caldecott Honor– and three-time Geisel Award–winning author-illustrator Corey Tabor.

Fox is ready to play ball!

So are Elephant, Rabbit, Bear…and Snail.

But who will win the game?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063370913
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/15/2024
Series:	My First I Can Read Series , #464
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Mel Fell, three-time Geisel Award winner for Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, and Fox the Tiger, and Geisel Honor recipient for Fox versus Fox. His other acclaimed titles include the young graphic novel chapter books Sir Ladybug, Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee, and Sir Ladybug and the Bookworms; the picture books Bear for a Day, Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World), Ursula Upside Down, Simon and the Better Bone, Snail Crossing, Fox and the Bike Ride, and Fox and the Jumping Contest; and the I Can Reads Fox versus Winter, Fox Is Late, and Fox Plays Ball. Corey R. Tabor lives in Tacoma, Washington, with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. 

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Mel Fell, three-time Geisel Award winner for Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, and Fox the Tiger, and Geisel Honor recipient for Fox versus Fox. His other acclaimed titles include the young graphic novel chapter books Sir Ladybug, Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee, and Sir Ladybug and the Bookworms; the picture books Bear for a Day, Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World), Ursula Upside Down, Simon and the Better Bone, Snail Crossing, Fox and the Bike Ride, and Fox and the Jumping Contest; and the I Can Reads Fox versus Winter, Fox Is Late, and Fox Plays Ball. Corey R. Tabor lives in Tacoma, Washington, with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. 

Editorial Reviews

“New readers win when they play football with Fox and company. . . . Tabor’s perennially clever, stylish art offers unexpected perspectives and angles, and the action scenes will keep readers in suspense. In the more sedate scenes, the understated illustrations will allow youngsters to concentrate on the few and well-chosen words and to appreciate Tabor’s subtle scene-setting, buildup, and humor. Another victory from a master of the early reader.” - Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2024-10-12
New readers win when they play football with Fox and company.

Fox’s spiky ears emerge from an old-school helmet, Bear wears purple vintage headgear, Elephant has donned a baseball cap, and Rabbit sports an upside-down sieve. Wearing only the standard shell, Snail wants to play, too—cheered on by a ladybug fan (alas, not Tabor’s Sir Ladybug character). Everyone wants to win! Steadying the ball with a trunk, Elephant expertly lofts it “far…very far”—toward a nearby snowcapped mountain. The chase is on: The animals speed after the ball on a skateboard, a scooter, and a bike, while unflappably smiling Snail moves at a snail’s pace. As the ball ricochets dramatically (depicted with rapidly careening dotted lines), Fox, Rabbit, Bear, and Elephant all miss the catch—as does Snail. When the animals all dive for the ball, Snail sensibly seeks the shell’s security. Because they all pile on Fox, the ball pops out…right to Snail! As the ladybug wildly applauds, Snail wins! And Fox sportingly congratulates the winner with “Good game!” Tabor’s perennially clever, stylish art offers unexpected perspectives and angles, and the action scenes will keep readers in suspense. In the more sedate scenes, the understated illustrations will allow youngsters to concentrate on the few and well-chosen words and to appreciate Tabor’s subtle scene-setting, buildup, and humor.

Another victory from a master of the early reader.(Early reader. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews