Soccer. (Record Breakers). Blaine Wiseman. New York, NY: Weigl (Distributed in Canada by Saunders Book Company), 2011. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $12.95 (pbk.), $27.13 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-61690-107-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-61690-106-6 (hc.). Subject Heading: Soccer-Records-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Harriet Zaidman. ** /4
	Hockey. (Record Breakers). Blaine Wiseman. New York, NY: Weigl (Distributed in Canada by Saunders Book Company), 2011. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $12.95 (pbk.), $27.13 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-61690-113-4 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-61690-112-7 (hc.). Subject Heading: Hockey-Records-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Harriet Zaidman. ** /4

Kids are always looking for up-to-date books about their favourite sports heroes and famous sporting events. Unfortunately, the "Record Breakers" series, although it has a 2011 copyright date, does not have current information that make it a worthy purchase for a school library collection.

      The brightly coloured books include a table of contents, 22 pages of information and coloured action photos, a glossary and index. Wiegl has established a website for this series, and a code is provided for the reader to enter a website and find further activities, videos and links. However, many of those videos, when tried several times, did not work or took a long time to buffer. The Internet links come from a variety of sources, none that appear to have been crafted with children in mind. As a result, the lessons on the rules of hockey, which are narrated at lightning speed, are not a suitable introduction to the game for a new player. Better videos on many of the same topics were found easily on YouTube, and they all worked right away. Links to other sites about important soccer and hockey athletes were written at a reading level far above the target age group.

     The contents include information about famous players, keepers or goalies, referees, coaches and managers, championship matches, equipment, records, stadiums, and the money and culture surrounding each game. But the writing is vague, and dates are not precisely indicated. In Soccer, under 'Goalie Goals', it says Rogerio Ceni "has played for Sao Paulo and Brazil. Ceni takes free kicks and penalties for Sao Paulo. He has scored 89 goals since 1997." An Internet search shows that this information is out-of-date; as of 2010, Ceni had scored 94 goals. The record-breaking salaries of several soccer stars are also listed, but the date is necessary to put the numbers into context. No dates are given.

     Soccer does not include any data about the 2010 World Cup held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The latest statistics on soccer matches are from 2007, although a company's sponsorship of a shirt for 2010-11 is recorded. But that's not why kids want to read a book about soccer.

     Similarly, hockey-crazy Canadian boys want the latest on the hockey greats. Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are on the cover of Hockey, but there is no mention of these or other current stars - many of them record breakers, inside the book.

     Children can learn a lot about each sport by flipping through these books, though. They can learn that the original hockey pucks were frozen potatoes, lumps of coal or clumps of horse manure, about early pioneer players, or other information.

     However, these books appear to be an agglomeration of information plunked into place rather than developed according to the theme. David Beckham is described as "the best-known soccer player" - but what made him best-known? There is no information. Another 'record' talks about soccer riots, stating: "In 1985, 39 Juventas fans were killed when a wall collapsed during a riot." Where was this riot?

     There are errors in the books as well. David Beckham is listed on three different pages in the index of Soccer. However, his name is not found on one of those pages.

     These books can be used as fillers, but will not satisfy the statistic-mad mania of young sports fans.

Recommended with reservations.

Harriet Zaidman is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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