Be the Ball: The Magic Dozen at Emerald Pond

As a former school teacher and current executive director of a residential home and family services agency for abused and abandoned children, I am delighted to add the charming antics and powerful life lessons offered by "The Magic Dozen" to our agency's library. With the help of the contents of an old box of golf balls, Brown and Sellers offer a captivating change of perspective on values such as honesty, loyalty, persistence, kindness, and healthy living. "Be the Ball: The Magic Dozen at Emerald Pond" reinforces lessons that have been taught to thousands of youngsters served by our agency for almost two centuries. The story of a mysterious old box of golf balls come to life will delight and instruct every child who hears it and every adult who reads and shares it.

I enjoyed this book very much! It is well-written and motivating. As an elementary school teacher, I am always looking for books that have a positive message. This book promotes a healthy lifestyle and how to build confidence though hard work and goal setting. Interwoven in this story are issues about bullying and how the central character must deal with these issues in a positive way. I highly recommend this thoroughly enjoyable book.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book with great characters, wonderfully illustrated, a warm and thought-provoking story and an ultimately valuable lesson for readers of all ages, particularly young teens. The message of a positive attitude and hard work to overcome hardships and realize dreams resonates strongly and this book teaches a valuable, but still appropriately subtle, lesson about combating childhood obesity in a setting of fun, interesting and intriguing situations all can relate to. This book should find a home in all young person's libraries of favorites and is particularly well-suited to a school or classroom reading setting.

I found this book to be very educational, stimulating, and motivating especially for younger readers. I would highly recommend adding this to any grade school library or your own personal collection. My children found the illustrations to be quite nice and really enjoyed all of the cute characters.