Foul Play: Killer Pass

Jonah Winter

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax so amazing. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season--different--firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still "scratchin' their heads over Sandy," who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day. Accompanied by sidebars filled with statistics, here's a book sure to delight budding baseball fans.

Nick Butterworth

The Rescue Party

It is a perfect day for doing nothing. But Percy's peaceful picnic is disturbed when a little rabbit meets with a nasty tumble into an old well. All the animals gather together with a huge rope to help pull the rabbit out. But all they tug from the well is the branch of a tree. But the rabbit has already found her own way out--through a passage under the ground, and she's at the end of the line with the other animals lending a hand!

Katharine Kenah

The Best Chef in Second Grade

Ollie is not the best at anything in second grade, but he does love to cook. When the famous Chef Antonia comes to visit, he can't wait Will he finally be the best in the class?