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Soccer fan or not, the call of The Field is irresistible.“Irresistible fun.”—
Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“A wonderful depiction of a joyful pastime . . . and a reminder of some of the ways we are more alike than different.”—
Booklist, Starred Review
Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2018
School Library Journal Best Book of 2018
The Horn Book Fanfare 2018
Shelf Awareness Best Children’s Book of the Year
Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Winner of the Sonia Lynn Sadler Award
“Vini! Come! The field calls!” cries a girl as she and her younger brother rouse their community—family, friends, and the local fruit vendor—for a pick-up soccer (futbol) game. Children–young and old–players and spectators come running—bringing balls, shoes, goals, and a love of the sport.
“Friends versus friends” teams are formed, the field is cleared of cows, and the game begins! But will a tropical rainstorm threaten their plans?
The world’s most popular and inclusive sport has found its spirited and authentic voice in Baptiste Paul’s debut picture book— highlighting the joys of the game along with its universal themes: teamwork, leadership, diversity, and acceptance. Creole words spoke in Saint Lucia, the book's setting, create a bilingual text that reminds readers of the sport’s world fame. Bright and brilliant debut illustrations by children’s book illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara—winner of the We Need Diverse Books Illustration Mentorship award—capture the grit and glory of the game and the beauty of the island setting that inspired this field.
About the author
Baptiste Paul is the award-winning author of
The Field,
Peace,
To Carnival, and
I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon. His works have garnered many starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and School Library Journal, and several titles have been translated into multiple languages. He loves writing stories inspired by his childhood in Saint Lucia and sharing his island culture and Kweyol/Creole language with anyone who will listen. He lives and works in the US, but will travel just about anywhere to talk about his books and St. Lucian culture as long as there is a way to get there. To learn more about Baptiste Paul, please visit www.baptistepaul.net.
Jacqueline Alcántara is the award-winning and critically acclaimed illustrator of
The Field by Baptiste Paul which received 3 starred reviews and won the Sonia Lynn Sadler Award, was a Junior Library Guild selection, and also appeared on the Horn Book Fanfare Best of 2018, the School Library Journal Best of 2018, and the CCBC 2018 Choices lists. Her other books include
Freedom Soup by Tami Charles,
Jump at the Sun by Alicia D. Williams, and
Jam,Too? by JaNay Brown-Wood. You can find her online at www.jacquelinealcantara.com, or follow her on Instagram @_jacqueline_alcantara
