Monica Brown and Rudy Gutierrez team up to deliver what Kirkus called, in a starred review, an “inspiring blend of art and story,” about the most famous soccer star in the world, Pelé. This bilingual picture book will inspire, teach, and amaze readers as they learn about the man who revolutionized the sport of soccer.
Do you know how a poor boy from Brazil who loved fútbol more than anything else became the biggest soccer star the world has ever known? This is the true story of Pelé, King of Soccer, the first man in the history of the sport to score a thousand goals and become a living legend. Rudy Gutierrez’s dynamic illustrations make award-winning author Monica Brown’s story of this remarkable sports hero come alive!
ALA Booklist
Gutierrez[’s] high-energy, full-bleed illustrations...kick up...this tribute to Pele, still soccer’s O Rei (The King).
NBCLatino.com
With great skill, Brown tells the story of the poor boy from Brazil who loved fútbol more than anything else and became the biggest soccer star the world has ever known.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Pulsing prose that is a pleasure for the adult on readaloud duty to deliver. Gutiérrez matches aural with visual delight in mixed-media double page spreads that sizzle with energy.
Brightly.com
Any kid who loves soccer should know the legend of Pelé. A Brazilian boy who practiced soccer barefoot because he couldn’t afford shoes grew up to be one of the greatest soccer players on earth, leading his team to the World Cup finals. Bonus, it’s bilingual.
Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
The life of Pele, "King of Soccer," begins in a town in Brazil, where he has to work hard to help his poor family. He plays soccer with his friends and with his father, promising his father to win a World Cup for him and for Brazil some day. At fifteen, Pele is invited to join a professional team; at seventeen he plays in the World Cup final and fulfills his vow. Pele helps win two more World Cups for Brazil, and becomes the first player to score a thousand goals. The tale is told clearly and succinctly in both languages. Visualized in mixed media on double pages teeming with additional images from life, the story's impression is one of intense, fluid color. Shapes flow into bands of decorations across the pages with pictures of Pele in action dominating his teammates and crowds as he races after a ball or kicks a pass. From the expanding spiral on the jacket to the end of his famous "bicycle kick," emotions are kept at high pitch. Added information about Pele and his life is included. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
School Library Journal
Gr 2-5 This bilingual account of the Brazilian superstar's life opens by sweeping readers up in a big game. Brisk sentences and well-chosen similes vividly capture the scenes in English and in Spanish: "Watch as the famous number 10 flips the soccer ball.... Pelé runs across the field like a cheetah, dribbling like a dancer." The page turns, el rey scores the goal, and the next page flashes back to his impoverished childhood, describing how he and his friends used whatever materials were at hand to play "the beautiful game." Brown also imagines dialogue between young Pelé and his father to illustrate how the player's love of family and country drove him to excel on the field. The direct prose effectively tells the soccer hero's story, but Gutiérrez's illustrations give the book an exciting burst of energy. Bold, wavy lines across the pages convey the vigor and panache of World Cup soccer. Text and pictures collaborate seamlessly on the final spread, which marks one of Pelé's greatest achievements. The bright, energetic illustrations and subject matter will make this a popular choice with children.-Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY
Kirkus Reviews
This beautifully designed story of soccer's best athlete begins in the midst of a game with the star about to score. "Pele! Pele! O Rei! Pele! The King!" shouts the roaring crowd. Brown's exuberant introduction transitions to a more sedate narrative that depicts the poor but hopeful upbringing of a boy in a small Brazilian town, playing soccer with nothing but a grapefruit or a newspaper-filled sock. When ten-year-old Pele sees his father's disappointment after Brazil's World Cup loss, his promise to win one for his dad foreshadows his hard work and escalating talent. Gutierrez's alluring multi-style gouache paintings swoop and swirl with energy and color. An abstract Pele in a sweeping, action-filled kick appears against more realistic portraits of a boy and his father, all superimposed over backgrounds and borders that reflect indigenous patterns. The stunning images place Pele's achievements within the context of his native country. Told in a dual English/Spanish text, this inspiring blend of art and story scores a winning goal. (Picture book/biography. 5-8)
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