Legendary children’s book author Allan Ahlberg takes readers of all ages on a journey with Kicking a Ball, a tale of a young boy who loves kicking his ball more than anything in the world. We see him as he grows up, right through to becoming a father himself, when he can teach his own child the joy of kicking a ball.
This rhyming picture book is fun to read, and has enough repetition for the younger ones to join in by chanting “kicking a ball”, while still being interesting enough to keep the older children engaged. Kicking a Ball is suitable for ages three and up, and is skewed towards young boys, but children with a love of sports and kicking a ball themselves will get the most of it.
The poem is actually out of Ahlberg’s 1989 collection of poems Heard it in the Playground, and has been revised and abridged for this book. Sebastien Braun illustrates the book, and he really brings it to life, showing the story of the boy growing up more than the words really could. Together the words and illustrations work perfectly, creating a timeless tale for generations of ball-loving children to enjoy.
As a parent it is a very nostalgic read, as it brings you back to your childhood days of kicking a ball around, and makes you feel renewed pleasure in the idea that you now get to experience it with your own children. Highly recommended.
REVIEWER: JJ McConnachie
TITLE: Kicking a Ball
AUTHOR(S): Allan Ahlberg
PUBLISHER: Penguin Random House
RRP: $17.99