English/French Creole Picture book about the love of futbol (soccer) in a village in St. Lucia!
Lovely illustrations filled with movement. ( )

Gorgeous illustrations accenting a great story, One kids and adults alike can enjoy! ( )

With children's activities so organized and scheduled, it is nice to find a delightful book shwoing how kids can just play and have fun. The author bases this story on his own memories of childhood in Saint Lucia. It shows a group of kids who have been rounded up in the village to go out to the field and play soccer. The illustrations were wonderful and added so much to the story. I loved the use of Creole throughout the book and the little glossary and explanation of these words at the back. A wonderful book to be used to show diversity in sport, having fun and playing through some hardships (if you can call rain a hardship). A great addition to a school or class library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

A young girl rouses her brother and his playmates in this debut picture-book from author/illustrator team Baptiste Paul and Jacqueline Alcántara, and a game of soccer in the nearby field is started. Full of action and excitement, the simple text - no more than a few words per page, in both English and Creole - captures the immediacy and motion of the game, which is only enlivened (and not interrupted) by the advent of a rainstorm. Splashing through mud, the players carry on, until their mothers finally insist they "vini abwézan" (come now)...

Set on a Caribbean island - most likely on Saint Lucia, given that Paul grew up there - The Field is one of only a few recent picture-books that I can think of, that feature contemporary children from that part of the world. Nadia L. Holm's Malaika's Costume is another, although that title addresses more serious issues, in the form of an absent parent. Here we have a fun, exciting text, paired with bright, bold illustrations that accentuate and build upon the sense of motion in the story. The subject matter, moreover - that of the "beautiful game" - is one sure to have appeal for many young children. I added this to my "bilingual texts" shelf, despite the fact that most of the (minimal) text is in English, because Creole words were used throughout. The meaning of these words is obvious from the context, and from the fact that the English equivalent is often given, but a handy glossary is still included at the rear. I also added it to my "Caribbean children" shelf, which I usually reserve for children's titles written by writers actually living in the region, rather than elsewhere. Leaving those issues of categorization aside, this is one I would recommend, both to young soccer lovers, and to those searching for picture-books with a Caribbean setting and cultural background. ( )