Joy in Mudville

  • Interest Level: Preschool - Grade 3
  • Reading Level: Grade 2

It had been only twenty-four hours since Mighty Casey struck out, plunging fans of the Mudville team into gloom and despair. But a new game day dawned, and Casey once again proved his might with a homer in the eighth. The Mudville nine took a one-run lead, but in the bottom of the ninth, their hurler walked three straight.

Bases loaded and the starting pitcher spent, the Mudville manager was not bullish about his bullpen. With the game on the line, he called for rookie Joy Armstrong to take the mound. Could she bring joy to Mudville again—and prove that a girl can play ball as well as any boy?

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978-1-4677-6731-6
$22.99
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Interest Level Preschool - Grade 3
Reading Level Grade 2
Genre Picture Books
Copyright 2014
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Books ®
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2014-08-01
Reading Counts! Level 4.3
Text Type Poetry
BISACS JUV014000, JUV032010, JUV039140
Dewey [E]
Graphics Full-color illustrations
Dimensions 9.25 x 11
Lexile 810
ATOS Reading Level 4.3
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 164162
Accelerated Reader® Points 0.5
Features Awards, Original artwork, and Reviewed

Author: Bob Raczka

Author of the art appreciation series, Bob Raczka's Art Adventures, Bob Raczka studied both art and advertising in college. He has worked as an advertising writer for 30+ years, and has published more than 30 children's books. His work has received multiple awards including the Claudia Lewis Award for his first poetry book, Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor for Niko Draws a Feeling. Bob and his wife Amy have three grown children, Robert, Carl and Emma, plus two dogs, Penny and Pippa. He is based in Illinois.

Illustrator: Glin Dibley

Awards

  • Black Eyed Susan Book Awards Nominee, Short-listed, 2014

Reviews

Library Media Connection

“As a read-aloud, sports fans and story lovers will enjoy learning how Mudville wins the game.” —Library Media Connection

School Library Journal

“There’s a not-so-subtle message here, but it’s delivered with pitch-perfect tone. This playful retelling wins a place for itself alongside the many iterations of Casey’s tale.” —School Library Journal

Booklist

“[A] good addition to the slim number of picture books about girls who excel at sports.” —Booklist Online

Publishers Weekly

“Dibley is a visual power hitter. His settings conjure up a beautiful day on a dusty, small-town field, while his characters’ broad, red noses (an artistic signature) and imperturbable miens feel right on the mark.” —Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

“[A]ll the characters’ expressions and actions are perfectly suited to this very odd game. The old ball game is still great fun.” —Kirkus Reviews