Soccer Mom from Outer Space [Paperback]

Barney Saltzberg (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 11, 2002 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The night before Lena’s first soccer game of the season, her father, Ruben Drinkwater, tells her the amazing story of his own first season playing soccer. His mom was like any ordinary parent watching the Atomic Pickles play. But soon, she began to act very differently–she started to look like a pickle, and she started to roar in a very loud voice when the team was scoring goals. In fact, she turned into an alien! Ruben spied on her at home, but she seemed to turn into an alien only during soccer games. Finally, he confronted her and asked her to act like all the other parents. That’s when they discovered how much Mrs. Drinkwater’s cheering meant to the team–especially to the parents, who took up where her cheerleading left off and renewed the whole team’s spirit for the game.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW called this a "hyperbolic portrait of an uncommonly spirited soccer mom. This soccer sortie scores high in hilarity." Ages 5-8. (June)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-This tale begins as a bedtime story told by a father before his daughter's first soccer game. He explains that, when he was a child, his mother embarrassed him at his soccer games by displaying excessive enthusiasm. He describes the time she dressed in a pickle costume to cheer on his team, the Atomic Pickles, finally convincing all of the other moms and dads to follow suit. Lena scoffs at this story until the next day, when her parents and the family dog arrive at her game dressed as Galactic Grapes. The cartoon illustrations are colorful and action-filled, often covering two-page spreads. The exuberant mother, dressed as a pickle and waving green pom-poms, and all of the parents emerging from a green blimp are particularly amusing. Saltzberg subtly offers good values for parents couched in a humorous story for children. While kids are sure to relate to it, it's a particularly good choice for coaches to use for a meeting with new soccer parents before launching into etiquette for enthusiastic audiences.
Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books (June 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440417589
• ISBN-13: 978-0440417583
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #607,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BARNEY SALTZBERG is the author-illustrator of the successful Kisses series, Peekaboo, Blueberry!, Hi, Blueberry!, and Good Egg (Workman), as well as various picture books. He also writes and performs music for children.

www.barneysaltzberg.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pokes fun at how heavily involved some parents get, September 5, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soccer Mom from Outer Space (Paperback)

Soccer Mom From Outer Space is a wild and enthusiastic picturebook written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg that, with whimsical delight, pokes fun at how heavily involved some parents get into their children's games. The night before a young girl plays her first soccer game, her father confesses the true story of the soccer mom from outer space - who became transformed into an alien! Soccer Mom From Outer Space is highly recommended as a joyful, lighthearted, and fun-to-read tale.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Kids @ Teens Read Too, October 24, 2006

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soccer Mom from Outer Space (Paperback)

We've all seen them, heard them, possibly been them. The mom who yells so loud when Timmy hits a double in Little League that glass shatters a block away. The dad who argues with the referee when innocent little Tina is called for traveling during her elementary school basketball game. It's a known fact that there are parents out there intent on embarrassing their children.

THE SOCCER MOM FROM OUTER SPACE is a father's story to his daughter the night before her first soccer match. The dad recalls the time that HIS mother turned into an alien when he played for the Atomic Pickles: hooting, hollering, and even--oh the horror!, showing up at a match dressed in a giant pickle costume.

Kids and parents will both delight in this humorous, yet true-to-life tale. A word of caution, though. Although THE SOCCER MOM FROM OUTER SPACE has a feel-good ending, I have a feeling most kids would react like my son did, which was by telling me that he'd never talk to me again if I EVER did something like that!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lively, entertaining story., September 19, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soccer Mom from Outer Space (Hardcover)

The soccer mom of this story was an ordinary mother until she attended her son's first match with the Atomic Pickles: there she turned into an alien who became an embarrassment at games. Readers with good reading skills will relish this lively story of a wild mother perhaps too supportive of her son.