Playoff Dreams (AllStar SportStory Series) [Paperback]

Fred Bowen (Author), Ann Barrow (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Allstar Sportstory

Brendan is one of the best players in the league, but no matter how hard he tries, he can't make his team win and break their losing streak. It looks as if his playoff dreams are never going to come true - at least not with this team! While attending a ball game with his uncle at Wrigley Field, an unexpected event and the story of the legendary Cubs player and Hall of Fame member Ernie Banks make Brendan begin to see himself and his team in a new light.

Brendan slowly begins to identify with Ernie Banks and his positive attitude. He realizes that it's the love of the game rather than winning that makes the experience a success.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5?Brendan is the best player on his team, but he feels "it's gonna be a long season," if his team doesn't start winning some games soon. After his Uncle Jack takes him to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, Brendan learns about other players who have been talented but have never made it to the playoffs or the World Series. His uncle explains, "It's like your team....They aren't winning, but you wouldn't want to play for another team, would you?" This is the fourth book in a series that uses actual sports heroes to reinforce a positive attitude among young athletes. Here, it is Ernie Banks, who hit over 500 home runs but usually played for a team that finished near the bottom of the league. Appealing pen-and-ink illustrations enhance the text, but the cover art doesn't reach out to potential readers. A fine purchase if other titles in the series have circulated well.?Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Cubs fans of all ages (especially kids) will identify with the plight of [Bowen's characters]." -- USA Today Baseball Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1st edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156145155X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561451555
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,403,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific book for kids who love sports., July 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Playoff Dreams (AllStar SportStory Series) (Paperback)

Our family loves Fred Bowen's books because each story includes a little real sports history. The history in Playoff Dreams is about Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs. He was a fantastic player with a fantastic attitude. He never got down on the game even though his team never made it to the World Series. The main character in Playoff Dreams is a centerfielder named Brendan. He is a really good player but he's bummed because his teammates stink. He goes to a game at Wrigley Field (home of the Chicago Cubs). The whole scene at Wrigley Field is very interesting and readers will be surprised at what Brendan does (reluctantly) because of a long-standing real-life tradition with Cubs fans. (It's really neat the way the author pulls in real history.) Brendan learns about the legend of Ernie Banks at Wrigley Field and the lesson about optimism takes root slowly in Brendan. Parents will love the moral of the story and kids will love all the sports action (there's lots of it.)

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great sports story!!, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Playoff Dreams (AllStar SportStory Series) (Paperback)

I am six years old and just started playing baseball this year. It was great to read a book about a boy who loved baseball so much even if his team wasn't winning. The end was very good and very exciting.