The Replay

June 1, 2022
Sequential panels offer accounts of select achievements and milestones in modern sports history. Literally blow-by-blow only in the case of Muhammad Ali's "Rumble in the Jungle" with George Foreman, each entry breaks down a memorable moment in a different sport or event--in the case of soccer, for instance, Brandi Chastain's winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup final and Germany's 7-1 demolition of Brazil in 2014's Men's World Cup semifinal. The featured athletes are a diverse lot, ranging from White ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean to African American gymnast Simone Biles, Jamaican speedster Usain Bolt, Japanese wrestling legend Kaori Icho, and Australian Indigenous Olympic track star Cathy Freeman. Paralympics champion Jonnie Peacock and surfer Bethany Hamilton, who has one arm, make the roster, too. Degnan's figures don't always quite resemble their subjects, but she does tuck versions of iconic photos, like the raised fists of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics, into her sets of freeze frames. In adrenalized prose (crediting Jesse Owens, for example, with "single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of white supremacy"), Skinner adds both historical context and descriptions of the action to each entry, then closes with a set of character card-style tributes. (This book was reviewed digitally.) The art underperforms, but the descriptions of athletic feats admirably compensate. (glossary) (Sports history. 9-12)

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September 1, 2022
Grades 3-6 In a fun book that any sports-loving kid will enjoy, 25 great moments in sports history are brought to life in a graphic-novel format. Each event is introduced by a full page of background information identifying who did what when and why it was so noteworthy. This information is conveyed through a few short paragraphs, offset comment boxes, and full-color illustrations. The next page is where the titular replay aspect comes in. Each feat is broken down step by step through a series of precise illustrations accompanied by real-time, gushy sports -announcer-style captions that help convey the awe, excitement, or disbelief of the moment. There's a diverse group of athletes and an array of sports: baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and hockey, of course, but also surfing, mountain climbing, gymnastics, tennis, and golf. The Paralympics, too, are represented. The last chapter offers a brief summary of each athlete's career in a trading-card format, identifying one super-skill along with a list of stats. This attention--getting graphic delight is sure to be a kid magnet.

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