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Young Pelé: soccer's first star by Lesa Cline-Ransome, paintings by James E. Ransome; Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007

James Ransome's illustrations shine in this picture book biography of Edson do Nascimento, who would be known to the world as Pelé. Using the greens, yellows and blues of the Brazilian flag Ransome paints glowing scenes of Edson's school, family and soccer life.

Edson struggled in school and his first soccer ball was "a sock stuffed with rags, rolled up and tied with string." His inability to focus in class resulted in reprimands and punishments but soccer was always foremost in his mind. His team, the Shoeless Ones, became a force in the city's soccer leagues. His nickname, Pelé, was bestowed at this young age.

The author describes the work ethic of the team; they sold peanuts and shined shoes to earn money for uniforms. The reader is reminded that talent also requires practice, drills, coaching and teamwork to suceed.

There is much here for the young soccer enthusiast to enjoy. Pelé traps, heads, dribbles and boots the ball across the pages. The creators of this biography score, indeed.

MY FRIEND EILEEN
by
Gregory K.

My friend Eileen is made of food.
She’s always fresh and never chewed.
When we go walking down the street,
I think we shock the folks we meet.
Yes, lots of people stop and stare
And say “my word, that’s broccoli hair!”
It sits atop her apple head
With cherry eyes, so deep and red.
Her legs are herbs that grow in rows
She walks around on tater toes.
Her arms are crackers, great to munch.
She’d give you any part for lunch.
There’s nothing she won’t do for you --
Eileen is great... and tasty, too!



(I'm posting an original poem-a-day through April in celebration of National Poetry Month. Links to this and other poems here on GottaBook (and there are lots of others, because poetry is NOT just for April) are collected over on the right of the blog under the headline "The Poems".)