I’ll Root for You and other poems by Eward van de Vendel - ADVISABLE

I’ll Root for You and other poems by Eward van de Vendel, illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch. PICTURE BOOK. Eardmans Books for Young Readers, 2018. 9780802855015

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In this collection of sixteen poems, the poet covers the ups and downs of competitive sports. Many of the poems relate to other areas of life, but the focus is athletic endeavors. A few of the poems are simply silly, but the majority have a good message about not giving up or cheering for team mates or not listening to critics. Each poem is paired with an illustration of an animal athlete. 

There are some really good poems in here that would be fun in a poetry unit. They are a good length for memorizing, making them a helpful addition to many poetry units. A few of the ideas are a bit confusing, probably due to the nature of translated poems, but most have excellent execution. My favorite poem in this collection is the final poem in which a football playing pig from Holland dreams of being a gymnast. The message is to let piggy be your model and go after whatever you dream. In addition to the charming poems, the pictures are delightful - animals in athletic clothes never gets old.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher