Better Than a Touchdown

K-Gr 3–It’s Jalen’s first day of school, and this is the year he’ll be allowed to try out for football. Dad is there to send him on his way with advice to always give his best. But once he arrives at school, friend Trey confirms that football has been canceled for the year. The garden club has planted vegetables over the summer, and now there is no practice field. From classroom teacher Ms. Lee and corner store owner Mr. Muhammad, Jalen learns that challenges will make him stronger and that 90 percent of life is how you respond to what happens. The next day, taking all of his advice, Jalen proposes working during recess with the gardening club to clear and empty lt. “They dug, they planted, and they hoped.” Jalen reminds everyone, “We can’t lose if we don’t quit!” A week later football is back on. Myers’s illustrations are bright, cartoonish, the children often showing expressive mangalike eyes.