Last Licks: A Spaldeen Story

I first saw this book at the Baseball Hall of Fame last summer. They have a great play area for young kids and I read it there. My daughter loves this story and I love that it encourages kids to be athletic, smart, and passionate. Annie Ellis loves her Spaldeen -- and the story does an excellent job of relaying that through rythmic writing that draws you into the pleasures of it all. If you love cities and passion, then this is a great book for you and your kid(s). I've read it aloud at least 100 times and it's one of my favorites.

If you grew up in the borough of Queens in the city of New York in the 1960s, you know from Spaldeens (okay--they're made by Spalding, but we never said it that way)--those pink rubber balls with the slightly fuzzy feel that you used to swing your leg over for "A My Name Is Alice." Cari Best has written a dandy story about an energetic kid named Annie who has a way with a Spaldeen. The writing is vibrant and humorous, the illustrations lush and alive, and kids love the story. I know what I'm talking about, because I recently read the book to my son's first grade class, and they got me to promise I'd bring them all back Spaldeens on my next trip to New York.Nice job, Cari!