Out in Left Field

Collins, Matt     Out in Left Field       

 Holiday House     2012  217p  $16.95

978-0-8234-2313-2       elm/ms      VG      Historical 

This is a sequel to When the Sergeant Came Marching Home.  It is a gentle, somewhat slow-moving story of farm life in rural Montana.  Donald loves baseball.  In the ninth inning of a game against the neighboring town, he misses a pop fly because he has been  hit in the forehead by the ball.  He is sure he will never live it down.  He sets his heart on archery, and is a failure.  Then he tries ice hockey, then skiing, but all with similar results.  Donald is a bit clumsy and accident prone, and each escapade presents a new disaster.  Finally Donald learns that it is possible to forgive yourself.

This is a quiet story with laugh-aloud sections about rural farm life in post-World War II America.  A good boy story for that boy who is quieter.  It is not as interesting or adventure-filled as When the Sergeant Came Marching Home.

VG    Joan Theal        Farm life, Sports, Boys

 

Garland, Michael. Grandpa’s Tractor.

Garland, Michael.  Grandpa’s Tractor. 

Boyd's Mills      2011  unp   16.95 978-1-59078-762-5 

elem    Historical        VG-BNe      

Timmy and Grandpa Joe visit the family farm and reminisce about Grandpa’s old red tractor.     

 Inspired by a rusty tractor embedded in a hillside near his home, Garland interviewed the

vehicle’s owner and was inspired to write “Grandpa’s Tractor.”  Tractors have

ongoing appeal for many young readers, who are fascinated by large, powerful

vehicles.  On a farm, tractors can be used for a variety of tasks, and are

endlessly useful.

     Timmy and Grandpa visit the site of the family farm, now run-down and

ramshackle.  Here they discover a rusted tractor.  Grandpa brings the tractor’s

usefulness to life and shares with Timmy the many ways that the tractor was

useful on the farm: to till fields, gather the harvest, transport workers to the

orchard, and bring fruits and vegetables to market. Timmy’s imagination is

sparked, and young readers will enjoy the cheerful artwork that recreates a

bygone era.  The brightly colored double-page spreads will complement the read-

aloud experience, especially with large groups.

Welliver, Hilary