I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Matthew Bennett Young takes readers on a cosmic journey to explore our universe and brings the passion for soccer and locations throughout the UK that many young readers will enjoy in his children’s book, “Spaceball: A Fantastic Soccer Journey Through Space and Time”.
The Synopsis
Do you Love Soccer? Do you also dream of scoring the Greatest Goal in The History of Everything? Find out how it’s done in this thrilling soccer space adventure.
The soccer ball in this story leaves Earth with a mighty strike of the boot and rockets past every planet. Each planet has a landmark of a famous soccer city in the UK. See if you can work out which city and soccer club it is!
The collage illustrations in this picture book are fun and vibrant and really make the story come alive. It genuinely seems as if you are travelling along with the soccer ball through space. Children will learn about the planets in our solar system in a fun and exhilarating way, travelling faster than the speed of soccer!
Let your imagination travel to new soccer frontiers on this magical fantasy adventure. Follow the journey of the world’s most adventurous soccer ball as it travels through our solar system and finally lands….where?
Buy the book today and get the world’s most fantastic soccer surprise!
Suitable for fans of all ages
The Review
This was such a fun and unique approach to the children’s book genre. The author was able to find a creative way of blending children’s interest in three very different subjects, (soccer, space, and iconic UK locations), and make a cohesive story that felt vibrant and inviting to young readers. The imagery that the author used, a creative collage-inspired approach, allowed the reader to feel more connected to the narrative as if this was something they themselves could have participated in.
Yet it was the attention to detail the author used that made this such a unique and educational story. From the intimate look at our own solar system and how each planet functioned, to the deep-rooted and specific cultural meanings behind some of the UK locations and events mentioned by the author, this book gave readers much to learn and consider, as well as a good dose of humor and wit that will keep them invested until the book’s end.
The Verdict
Creative, heartfelt, and entertaining, author Matthew Bennett Young’s “Spaceball: A Fantastic Soccer Journey Through Space and Time” is a must-read children’s book. The humorous dialogue between the father and his son in this story, as well as the rich educational value in multiple fields of children’s education the author taps into, made this such an enjoyable read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Matthew has been writing stories since his childhood in England. His children’s stories can be recognized by a “naïve” style, written as much from a child’s view of the world as possible, but in a way that is also intended to appeal to adults. He tries to write to disrupt associations and challenge assumptions that are commonly made around us. Matthew was appointed a Writer in Schools by the Ministry of Culture and Communications in Quebec and through this program delivers literary workshops to children in the Montreal area. He has taught at school, college and university level in Sweden and Canada and has been invited to give readings and teach workshops at schools, museums and literary festivals in New York, Berlin, London and Gothenburg. Matthew currently teaches in Montreal.
He enjoys growing food, cooking, doing yoga and walking on the chalky downs of North Dorset when he can.
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