This engaging wordbook offers a primer for young children on the essential words and phrases associated with twenty-three different sports. From badminton to volleyball, each on their own two-page spread, readers can peruse the vocabulary words to explore how the sport is played, what equipment is required, what athletes wear and the like. For example, included on the football spread are “touchdown pass,” “end zone” and “helmet.” For swimming, there are “goggles,” “lane markers” and “crawl.” The illustrations, in bright primary colors, also provide a quick tutorial on the basics of each sport. Humorous asides and silly dialogue throughout add to the book's overall lively and amusing feel. For example, a golf ball inside an alligator's mouth becomes an “unplayable ball.” And a diver leaping off the highest platform comments, “What a view!” Also in keeping with the light tone of the book, there's a spread in the middle called Halftime, which features searching and counting activities. Award-winning illustrator Benoit Tardif cleverly imparts the sense of fun involved in playing sports, along with lots of useful information. This is a book that will be pored over by small children, each looking for their own favorite sport or trying to learn more about new ones. The short descriptions of the included sports and the glossary at the back of the book mean it also works in physical education lessons for young pre-readers up to the early elementary grades

Benoit Tardif started illustrating professionally after he completed his studies in graphic design at Université du Québec — Montréal. Since then, he has offered simple, effective and colorful images. Often tinged with irony, Benoit's style is marked by his interest in silkscreen and posters. He works with both traditional and digital techniques to build images that are designed to convey a specific and conceptual message.

Benoit Tardif's profile page

• Short-listed, Silver Birch Express, Ontario Library Association
• Short-listed, First & Best List, Toronto Public Library