Get a Hit, Mo!

Mo Jackson

by David A. Adler, Sam Ricks (Illustrator)

A companion to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Don't Throw It to Mo !

Baseball season has arrived and Mo is all set to play with his team, the Lions. But Mo always bats last, and he always plays right field—and no balls ever come to right field. Will Mo ever get his chance to help the Lions win? This Level 2 reader about a little African-American boy with a big passion for sports is a funny, motivational companion to the winner of the 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.

Genres: Sports, Picture Books, Baseball, Childrens, African American

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2016

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy reader book for kids who are playing sports and feeling a bit discouraged. I love how Mo doesn't give up. I like that the reader hears exactly what he is thinking while he continues to make mistakes and fall short of his goal to hit the baseball. Highly recommended for Grades 1-2.

[Ms. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Early Reader fiction
Copyright: 2016
Age level of interest: 6-7 yrs old
Reading level: 1st and 2nd grade

Brief Description:
Mo Jackson is the youngest, smallest player on his baseball team but that doesn't keep him from success.

Two Characteristics:

Plot: The book starts with a "Bam!" and ends with a high five. Although the ending is predictable and unlikely there is suspense and action just like a good baseball game. The dialogue helps to move the story along as well.

Characters: The main character, a brown skinned boy with curly hair, is absolutely loveable! The illustrations and his inner thoughts help the reader empathesize with his situation. The characters depicted are of various skin tones and the coach is a freckled face woman


Serving it's audience:

This book is a good early reader that is funny, colorful and has some suspense to it. It is visually appealing without being overwhelming for those that are easily distracted. There is repetition and short sentences and illustrations that help prompt beginning readers. It offers diversity in a "normal" way and doesn't add to stereotypes about athletes. It would be good to put in the hands of a reader that is expriencing a lull in self esteem.

Awards:
None found.

Review:
Kirkus - December 2015

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: This is a great early reader book to pick up in spring during the start of baseball season. Munchkin really connected with this book as he is one of the smallest and youngest kids on his Rookie team. It is a nice reminder that you don't always get the hit or the ball but by continuing to show up you can help your team. It is a great level 2 book with longer sentences, more text on each page but still easy, sight words. Young baseball fans and players will really enjoy this one.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mo is getting more and more discouraged as the other team's score goes up and his team doesn't. He can't seem to hit the ball no matter what he tries. Is the game doomed?

I love how Mo actually accomplished his goal in this story. It is humorous, but completely believable for a kids' sports game. A cute little sports story about not giving up. Hand this to a leveled reader fan bemoaning the lack of sports leveled readers out there.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series because it will appeal to sports minded students with its varied sports story themed books! I can see kids getting super excited to share this book with others, especially when they love another book by this author. Great beginning chapter book.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little underwhelming and too simple to be an engaging story. If a young reader were to put the energy into completing this, I'm not sure they'd be satisfied that their the expenditure of energy was worthwhile.

[Selma Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun children's book that follows the adventures of Mo and his baseball team. I think the illustrations really helped with the engaging storyline. The book does a great job of blending sportsmanship with valuable life lessons for young readers.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and completely predictable. Perfect for early readers.

[Mazie Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning Reader. This was a very cute book for young readers. I enjoyed the illustrations and the writing. It would be fun to read with young children.

[Katie Dicesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mo is the best...

[Renee MA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, easy to read book with great art.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Amy Balaich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning reader -- inspirational book, would be great for any student who loves sports and particularly baseball.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun baseball adventure for Mo and his team just when you think there out things can change! Short sentences and cute illustrations!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lincoln read all of this. Very proud of him and this February reading challenge at school.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mo keeps striking out at bat. When in the outfield he observes some other players technique. When it comes down to the wire, will Mo be able to hit the ball?

[Michelle Farella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penguin - Level 2, I. Hardest of the level 2s. Diverse character, longer sentences, simple dialogue, picture for clues, actual plot.

[Kelly]

The end of this book confused me. Did he score? If not, how did they win the game? If he did score, didn't he just hit a dinker? I like the series, but I didn't understand the end of this book.

[Checkthebook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series about Mo. It is charming. One of my 2nd graders wants to hear them again and again.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mo will forever have a place with me since my son's reading confidence blossomed with his books. Forever love, forever rec to beginning independent readers.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 3
Illustrations 5

[Katy Bosch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series for early readers!

[Darius Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the bottom of the 9th. And then the Lions won!

In the book, there is a Coach Marie, and on my T-ball team, I have a Coach Marie too.

I love the part where Mo won the game.

[Megan Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Category/Genre: Picture Book/Easy Reader/Juvenile Fiction

Copyright Date: 2016

Estimate of age level of interest: K-3

Estimate of reading level: Grade 2

Brief description: Despite being the youngest and smallest member of his baseball team, Mo keeps his head in the game and makes a play to be proud of.

Two characteristics of picture books/realistic fiction that appear in this book:

1. The body language and facial expressions of characters illustrated in this book help reinforce the roller coaster of moods conveyed in the story's dialog.

2. The book cover and title page of this book deliver an enticing, yet simple message, "Get a hit, Mo!" The cover art is bold and full of action. Both choice of words an image appeal to a young audience; one does not need to be a seasoned reader to know this book is an action-packed story about baseball!

In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?:

Both emerging and early readers will appreciate the expressive characters and lively illustrations which accompany the text in this book. The dialog serves a young audience well as they will easily connect with a main character who experiences a baseball game from a position of relative inexperience but ends in victory with the help of enthusiasm, effort, careful observation, and a pinch of luck.

In addition to an authentic dialog, the author writes a book that is inclusive of gender and race; many readers could find a little bit of themselves reflected in the characters of the story.

Awards:
None (yet!)

Published reviews from professional sources:

Kirkus Reviews, December 2015
School Library Journal, December 2015
Horn Book Guide, October 2016
Booklist, February 2016

[Kylie Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning Reader

Easy content for students. The sports theme will appeal to students who need a little something different

[Ally Lybbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning Reader
This book would be perfect for ELLs. The illustration to word ratio would be perfect for young readers or ELLs. I love the message about not giving up. I think that would facilitate a good discussion with the class. I love that Mo is portrayed with dark skin.

[Jenny]

I thought this was a good book for beginning readers. It is a level 2 book so there are longer sentences, and more of a plot line. The pictures and the text matched so if a struggling reader was reading it they could look at the pictures for some help. There are some related vocabulary words to sporting event and specifically baseball.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mo loves playing baseball so much he swings his carrot sticks and imagines hitting a great pitch. Smaller and younger than the rest of his teammates, Mo bats last and plays right field. He can’t hit any pitch, and no one ever hits a ball out to right field so Mo doesn’t get to play much. When Mo’s team, the Lions, play the Bears, the Bears score two runs in the first inning, and the pitcher throws so fast that Mo wonders how he will ever hit the ball. During the second inning, Mo takes his turn at bat. “Strike one!” cries the umpire. “Strike two!” “Strike three!” Poor Mo goes back to the dugout. During the last inning with two outs, Mo steps up as the last batter of the game. Is the game doomed? Then a happy accident occurs, and Mo finds himself running for first base!
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this baseball story level 2 reader book; Mo is the littlest and youngest member on the team. But he loves playing ball. He strikes out and is put in the position that no one wants to be in. But as his determination and drive to play well plays off for him in the end. Hitting the winning points for his team. Teaching others doesn't matter how big you are you can still be an important member of your team.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Mo shares the same feeling of desperation that most little league players face when they are the smallest and least successful on the team. Told accompanied with crisp colorful cartoon like illustrations and simple text, young readers will cheer as Mo resilience and a little luck along the way change his outlook about his team and himself. The multi cultural characters give a realistic feel to a title that will appeal to young athletes.