Last Licks: A Spaldeen Story

by Cari Best, Diane Palmiscano (Illustrator)

Annie's spectacular hit and the ball collector's amazing catch of her Sky High Super Pinkie bring the two former foes together in an unexpected way. By the creators of Getting Used to Harry.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 1999

About the author

Cari Best has written many award-winning picture books, including Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and My Three Best Friends and Me, described by the New York Times as “refreshing” and “exciting.” Her most recent picture book is If I Could Drive, Mama, was described by Publishers Weekly as “a wonderful tribute to an imagination in perpetual motion.” In the Country of Queens is her first novel. Ms. Best lives in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie Ellis is always itching to pitch her lucky Sky-High Super Pinkie. It makes the sweetest sound: off her fist, a mop handle, or the wall. The possibilities are endless. Her teacher, Miss Hatchett, threatens to pop the pesky Pinkie and it's a challenge not to lose it to Mrs. O'Donnell's dog. But the biggest threat of all is Annie's Super, who hopes to add Annie's ball to his infamous collection of neighborhood Pinkies.When Annie's ball is the only one left, she has to risk using -- and losing -- it at the weekly punchball game. Her "last licks" brings a spectacular hit -- over the tops of sycamore trees, through the light and dark and dusk of day. But it's her final surprising confrontation with the dreaded Super that will have readers young and old cheering!

Cute story, based on a real life ball - The Spaldeen - never heard of it until now.