Sam Is Not a Loser [Hardcover]

Thierry Robberecht (Author), Philippe Goossens (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2008 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Sam loves to play games—but he doesn’t like to lose. So when his soccer team is playing against a team of bigger kids, Sam decides not to play. But if he doesn’t even play, how can he ever win?
Given the popularity of children’s sports, especially soccer, this is a timely topic. It’s handled here with the gentle humor, fresh feel, and relatable characters that this author/illustrator team has become known for, and the adorable art and bright colors are right on target for the very young audience.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—This latest offering about the little wolf focuses on good sportsmanship. Sam loves to play games, but only if he wins. When his friend Ray wins too often, Sam sulks and refuses to talk to him, and when their soccer team is scheduled to play "the big kids," Sam decides to skip the game because he's afraid they'll lose. Instead, he visits his grandma, who reminds him how much he loves soccer. In the end, she drives him to the game, which results in a tie, and he realizes that he loves to play games, even if he doesn't win every time. The story's obvious message is hammered home, and the unrealistically tied game undercuts its effectiveness. Despite Sam's authentically childlike voice, the translated text is somewhat choppy. Nevertheless, the young wolf is a believable character dealing with issues many children face. The full-bleed, color-saturated oil illustrations reflect his moods, and the characters are appealingly drawn with dots for eyes and lines for mouths. Libraries where the earlier books are popular, or those looking for more titles on good sportsmanship, may want to add this one, but most can pass.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Thierry Robberecht and Philippe Goossens have created 15 books together, including three other books about Sam, and their work has been published in 13 countries. They both live in Brussels.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (April 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618992103
• ISBN-13: 978-0618992102
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars don't be a sore loser! July 17, 2008

By Melissa Sack VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Sam has a thing or two to learn about sportsmanship. He loves to play games as long as he is winning! When he loses he gets really angry! His grandmother takes the time to explain to him that it doesn't matter if you when or lose it's if you have fun or not.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Review from Books That Heal Kids March 28, 2010

By Books That Heal Kids

Format:Hardcover

The title, Sam Is Not a Loser, made me think this book might be about name calling or bullying. But it is all about sportsmanship. There are not many good picture book on sportsmanship. This is a good one. It's simple and to the point.