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Goal! (2010)

by Mina Javaherbin(Favorite Author)

3.77 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0763645710 (ISBN13: 9780763645717)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Candlewick

review 1: It's important for me to read stories to my children that provide a different perspective of the world. Since I lived in South Africa, I looked for a book that drew a picture of a typical day for a young child in South Africa. My daughter loves soccer, so I thought this book would be a good fit where I could show her how kids from all over the world can share a common interest: football/soccer. The author's note was an important component to the story as the explanations the author provided were eloquent and meaningful to any reader. I thought the following lines captured the theme of the story and the theme I wanted my children to understand from reading the book, "They play to stay children. They play to stay human. But mostly, they play to play." The story is about... more Ajani, a young boy who lives in a sandy and dusty township in South Africa. Ajani and his friends have a break from collecting water for their families and are able to play a game of soccer with their brand-new soccer ball. They must be sneaky and only play in the sandy streets when local bullies aren't around to steal their ball. They fool and trick the bullies in not seeing their soccer ball, so they play until the day ends and when they must return to their humble homes made from corrugated iron and cardboard. I would use this book that creates a multicultural perspective of daily life in South Africa in the lower elementary school age classroom. I would read this book aloud to my students when teaching about other places across the globe or when teaching about how other children across the world live differently compared to themselves. I would build a connection between my students and South African children by discussing with them the differences and similaries between children of different cultures. This would be a good book to introduce the concept of pen pals and writing to other students in other countries and the value of understanding and befriending people who are different and live in different places. My goal in reading this book to students is to broaden student's global perspective.
review 2: Although soccer--or football as it is called in most of the world--is at the heart of this inspiring book, it deals with so much more than just sports. Yes, the story centers on Ajani and his friends in a small South African town and their joy in playing soccer with the new ball Ajani won for his reading ability. But it's also about the courage needed to face--and sometimes trick--bullies who often seem intent on taking away what someone else has. It also deals with the power of unity and coming together against others. Despite the challenges of their daily lives, including having to tote water from the well every evening, these youngsters manage to forget everything in pursuit of the game and scoring a goal. The text grabs and holds readers' attention while the oil illustrations reflect a wide array of emotions playing across the faces of the soccer players and the bullies. When Jamal holds that soccer ball high above his head in triumph, I wanted to cheer along with the others, even while noting the frailness of his limbs. less

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