The Day Dad Joined My Soccer Team

March 5, 2018
The duo behind The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten returns with another story about an overly eager parent. When a soccer-loving kids’ coach puts the word out for a parent volunteer, his dad—wearing a headband, five o’clock shadow, and a jersey two sizes too small——hops in the game. The boy’s father only cares about winning, goofs around on the sidelines, and acts like he’s the only one on the field—behaviors that readers might recognize on their own sports teams. Luckily, the boy understands how being a good sport makes the game better for everyone and coaches his dad on how to play fair, support his teammates, and focus on having a good time. Lowery’s bright, bold cartoons complement the fun conceit: readers will get a kick out of seeing an exasperated yet patient kid dealing with a clueless parental figure. Ages 5–6.

March 1, 2018

K-Gr 2-An unnamed kid in the number four jersey loves playing soccer as much as his dad, in his "Soccer Dad" T-shirt, loves cheering him on. When Coach needs a parent volunteer, Dad is already on the field before he can be told that his help is needed with halftime snacks, not playing. Despite the boy's advice, Dad is soon embarrassing his son by goofing off, not encouraging his teammates, having a hissy fit after being accidentally tripped, and being an all-around poor sport. The boy laments to Coach that his Dad is ruining the game for everyone, but Coach responds with this: "If we're patient and keep showing him what it means to be a team player. I am sure he'll figure it out."And Coach is right; Dad ends up playing a great game. Fergus's first-person text is spot-on and immediately makes readers feel invested in the story's outcome. Lowery's illustrations are spare yet action-packed and display a wide range of emotions. They are a great combination. VERDICT A fun and engaging role-reversal read-aloud about how to be a good sport. Purchase as needed.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2018
Dad is schooled about more than soccer the day he "volunteers" to help out his child's team. In this role-reversal book, the unnamed first-person narrator, an avid soccer player, is mortified by the sudden change in Dad's behavior after he dons a jersey and assumes a position on the field. In fact, Dad exhibits all the bad behaviors: whining to the coach, focusing on winning at all costs, picking flowers on the field, fooling around on the sideline, running off to play on the slides, hogging the ball, grumping when the team's goalie misses a save, and throwing a fit about an accidental foul. The narrator consults Coach, a dark-skinned bald man, who has some words of wisdom, encouraging them to work with Dad's energy and enthusiasm to focus on being a good sport (a clipboard lists the four points for readers). Remarkably, the father turns his act around in the second half but in the end decides that volunteering for snacks may be more his speed. Lowery's Photoshop illustrations are filled with bright, flat colors spotlighting the father's hijinks and the characters' emotions. Both dad and child have brown hair and light brown skin. The other players are diverse in terms of both race and gender presentation.Turning the tables shines the light on poor sportsmanship. Will Fergus and Lowery next address bad behavior in the bleachers? (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2018
"Soccer was a ball-kicking, leg-pumping, heart-thumping good time" until a boy's father joins his team. Dad--pictured in the childlike digital illustrations in a belly-button-revealing jersey--whines about his assigned position, acts silly on the sidelines, etc. This latest parent/child switcheroo, from the team behind The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten, is quite humorous, though readers will quickly get the drawn-out didactic point.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)