Wonder Goal!

by Michael Foreman

Overview

Like many children all over the world, a small boy dreams of winning the World Cup! But in the meantime, scoring the perfect, time-stopping goal would be just fine. With a stirring, simple text and glorious watercolors, this picture book captures both the drama and the magic of the most popular game in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783446582
Publisher:	Andersen Press, Limited
Publication date:	09/01/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Michael Foreman's numerous books for children have earned him widespread recognition as one of the world’s best-loved illustrators.

Editorial Reviews

Foreman's (War Boy) appealing, understated story opens as a team of boys arrives at a field for a soccer game. Teased by the others, the new boy is determined to "show them"-and he gets his chance. Remembering his father's advice ("Head over the ball, balance, power, timing"), the lad executes the perfect kick. As the goalie leaps for the ball, the boy imagines that time stops and his vision of the lunging goalie freezes, "like a photograph.... Like all those photographs that crowded the walls of his tiny bedroom." Foreman shows the boy asleep, surrounded by images of world-class soccer players, dreaming of scoring a "wonder goal" and winning the World Cup. Fast-forwarding the narrative, the artist depicts another goalie making a similar attempt to block another unstoppable ball. But this time the action is in an enormous stadium, and the boy is now a man, scoring in a World Cup game. Foreman gives his narrative an affecting emotional edge: the boy has lamented that his father, working overtime, missed his first wonder goal; the second time, his dad is there to see it. Rendered in Foreman's usual clean style, the watercolors hold some welcome surprises, for example, clouds assume the shape of the players' silhouettes when mention is made of their shared dreams of soccer stardom. This winning tale will score points with anyone who dreams of athletic glory. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 1-3-The fantasy of becoming a world-class soccer star and ultimately scoring a "wonder goal" has to have passed through many young players' imaginations. Foreman, a lifelong fan of the sport, captures this reverie in the artistry of his vivid watercolors. These are the real strength of the book. Each of his panoramic, framed scenes spans nearly the entire width of a spread, evoking the feeling of a larger-than-life dream. Crisp blue uniforms against lush green grass on the field lead up to a dramatic page where the ball smacks the net (heading directly toward readers). These visuals set the mood for the players' exuberant emotions as they celebrate a goal that wins the game. Endpapers depict Foreman's sketches of scenes of soccer being played in streets, fields, and schools and courtyards of countries around the world. This book will be suitable for dreamers in any sport.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Dreams do come true in Foreman's (Playtime Rhymes, 2002, etc.) story of kicking a big goal in a soccer match; they come true with amazing alacrity. A new boy on the squad gets the ritual ribbing, which he takes in stride, but he knows that a goal at the right time would secure his place on the team and in his teammates' estimation. He follows his dad's advice-"Head over the ball. Balance. Power. Timing"-and then that golden, transcendent moment: "As soon as he kicked it, he knew it was going to be a goal." From here, the story moves out of body and time, and the young boy is a young man, now on a World Cup team, this time his father's in the stands, watching as he finds that exquisite moment again, but now it's before tens of thousands. Foreman works a good visual transition from the playground to the professional soccer field, loading the page-and-a-half spreads with action and the color of sport pageantry. As the boys take the field, for instance, the clouds overhead form the shapes of the adult players they will become. His endpapers are full of soccer snaps from around the world, the penultimate page echoes as adults the boys on the cover. Lots of a good thing here-and to his credit, Foreman doesn't come across as having overindulged the fantasy. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

"Each of [Foreman's] panoramic, framed scenes spans nearly the entire width of a spread, evoking the feeling of a larger-than-life dream. . . . These visuals set the mood for the players' exuberant emotions as they celebrate a goal that wins the game . . . suitable for dreamers in any sport." —School Library Journal



"Foreman's language is appealingly simple, and the large, evocative watercolors add to the dreamlike quality, with details such as clouds that resemble players in action. . . . A loving tribute to what the English call the 'beautiful game.'" —Booklist



"Foreman works a good visual transition from the playground to the professional soccer field, loading the page-and-a-half spreads with action and the color of sport pageantry. . . . Lots of a good thing here." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher