Synopsis
A big green ball of string becomes a most unusual soccer ball in this imaginative and enchanting picture book. Wanting to play soccer but lacking a ball, George makes do with the titular big ball of string. Rhythmic, read-aloud text describes George's dribbling adventures around town, from his home, to main street, to the park, and back again. Charming watercolor illustrations trace George's fun with his makeshift toy as the bright green string unravels while he plays, encouraging children to see ordinary household objects in new ways while they follow George's sporting fun.
Sharon Oliver - Children's Literature
In this fanciful story poor George wants to play soccer, but he does not have a soccer ball to kick. All George has is a big ball of string. George decides this will make an acceptable soccer ball and carries the ball of string through the neighborhood to the park. Once at the park, "He kicked it and he kicked it and kick, kick, kicked it!" He kicks the ball of string all around the park and through the neighborhood back to his house, where he discovers that his ball has disappeared. He searches and searches until he finds a piece of string. He decides to roll up the string into a ball and retraces his earlier steps, rolling and rolling and rolling, until suddenly he is back at his house with the big ball of string and decides he wants to play soccer. The simplicity of the story is appealing, though the constantly repeating text may wear on the adult reader. The pen and ink drawings, colored with computer software, are muted shades of orange, yellow and brown that make the brighter green string stand out but are not terribly appealing. Children will get some amusement from tracing the string's path through the book, but the slightness of the story will leave older readers wanting more. An addition if you have a need to bulk up your Pre-K and Kindergarten stories. 2005, Allen & Unwin, Ages 3 to 5.