Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen (Candlewick Press, $15.99, 32 pages)
Author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen has fashioned a children’s book that should be quite popular with male children, ages 4 and above. It will especially appeal to those kids – male or female – who are just being exposed to the game of baseball, either Pee Wee League style or softball.
Randy Riley is a boy who would love more than anything to be the Ted Williams of his Little League team. But while he’s a very smart whiz-kid when it comes to science and space, he’s not able to hit a baseball no matter how hard he tries. In this story set in the 1950s, Randy uses his powerful telescope to determine that a meteor fireball is on its way toward earth, and it will destroy the town where he lives.
Randy is unable to convince anyone – including his absolutely clueless parents, that the meteor is on its way. So he has just 19 days to find a solution; a way of destroying the fireball before it touches down. Our hero Randy winds up getting the greatest hit of them all, in a tale that tells children that their own, unique personal strengths are priceless.
Beautifully illustrated and highly recommended.
Joseph Arellano
A review copy was provided by the publisher. Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit will also appeal to boys who are fascinated with robots. It is available as a Nook Book download.