Reviews
Review By Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature)
One fine spring Saturday Pecorino's mother wakes him up and tells him today is the first day of Little League. Off they go to the field where the coach gives Pecorino his baseball shirt, an "Xtra-Xtra-large" that goes down to his sneakers. Unlike the other shirts that say "Malone's We Sell Boxes," Pecorino's shirt appears to say "Alone," which is just how he feels in the outfield. Interestingly he makes friends with the member of the opposing team who also plays right field and whose shirt appears to say "hit me." Madison captures the insecure feelings of children just learning the game and presents the story in vivid language with lots of humor. Lovely lines, such as "trees were singing and the birds were budding," will keep listeners on their toes. Alliterations such as "tipped, tapped, or touched the ball with their bats" and "caught, corralled, or clipped the ball with their mitts" make this a delight to read aloud.
The illustrations combine collage with pen, pencil, and acrylic drawings. The offbeat style (the people are shaped like bowling pins) suits the quirky tale. Only seven players are shown on the baseball field instead of nine but one is a girl. In the end Pecorino makes the catch that wins the game, and he makes a new friend. This book is just right to calm the nerves of new T-ball and Little League players.
Review By Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA
Pecorino Sasquatch, who got stuck in a tuba in Pecorinos First Concert (S & S, 2005), is about to play his first baseball game. When his mother announces that its his first day of Little League, he springs out of bed, but then remembers that he hasnt a clue what Little League is. No matter. Out to the field he goes where Coach Credenza issues the uniforms. With only an Xtra-Xtra-large shirt left, Pecorino finds that his chest reads, Alone We Sell Oxes. The youngster lifts his arms out to his side and discovers that the sponsor is Malones, a store that sells boxes. He is assigned to right field, and when the opposing teams right-fielder arrives, he is wearing a shirt that says hit me ear. Upon raising his arms, the writing becomes clear: Whites Womens Wear. The innings progress, and Malones is ahead by one run. Pecorinos back in right field and Whites right-fielder is at bat. He manages to lob one right toward Pecorino, who has never actually caught a ball–until now. Cantones acrylic, pen, and collage illustrations add to the general silliness of this book. The characters features are exaggerated and humorous. Pecorino still has his trademark bug-eyes and oversized nose, and his mother is a chinless creature with a wild beehive hairdo, elongated neck, and the same eyes as Pecorino. Lighthearted nonsense, good for a laugh or two, this book would pair nicely with Willy Welchs Playing Right Field (Scholastic) or Robert Krauss Mort The Sport (Orchard, both 2000).
- Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Review By Grace Anne DeCandido, Booklist
What can you say about a hero who is named for a cheese and a quasi-mythical beast? Pecorino Sasquatch performs admirably in his first Little League game, though it is not without trauma. Coach Credenza hands him the last jersey, which bears the number 13 and is so huge that it appears to say “Alone” instead of “Malone,” the logo everyone else wears (the M is under Pecorino's arm). The opposing team is sponsored by White's Women's Wear) which is, alas, compressed to “hit me” on the jersey of one of the players, who is both Pecorino's rival and respected adversary. The illustrations are a manic blend of acrylic, pen, and collage: figures have huge noses and great googly eyes, pipe-stem legs and arms, and in the case of Mrs. Sasquatch, truly alarming hair. Silly, decidedly odd, and generally giggle inducing.
- From BookList, February 1, 2006, Copyright © American Library Association.