Any Number Can Play

Any Number Can Play

From School Library Journal Grade 3-6-These books try to carve out a niche in the junior sports set by focusing on two offbeat aspects: players' quirky reasons for choosing uniform numbers and their superstitious practices before, during, and after games. Well researched and loaded with detail, both titles are written in a straightforward, somewhat dry manner. The author focuses on relatively recent incidents and current major-league players so that his young audience will recognize the names. Clever, black-and-white cartoons relate directly to the texts and add much-needed humor. The problem is in how to read the books. One anecdote after another is relayed without any organization by sport or other method. Children can look up their favorite players in the index, but plowing through all 64 pages from start to finish is tedious and unlikely. Absolute sports fanatics may find these books appealing, but most readers in this age group are looking for materials on their favorite teams or players. Purchase only if your sports section is loaded and you are looking to supplement it with additional titles.Steve Clancy, Colonial Village Elementary School, Niagara Falls, NY Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. Provides young readers with a collection of humorous tales and anecdotes in relation to how professional athletes end up with the number they wear on their uniform. From Booklist Reviewed with George Sullivan's Don't Step on the Foul.Gr. 4-8. Here are a couple of sure bets for trivia nuts, or anyone who wants a good chuckle. Readers will be surprised and amused at the importance players attach to their jersey numbers and marvel at the many rituals and superstitions they observe. Take the case of basketball great Michael Jordan: AnyNumber recounts how Jordan's return to his 23 jersey cost the Bulls $125,000 in fines. The book also covers how numbers are retired, banned, and who uses the unlucky 13. Stranger yet are the superstitions revealed in Foul Lin e. How about a San Francisco Giant and his lucky teddy bear, or a hockey players' ritual that led to an all out brawl? Babe Ruth took a swat at butterflies on the diamond; he thought they were bad luck. The great thing about the oddities in both these volumes is that you don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy them. Denia HesterCopyright