Biscuit Plays Ball

Biscuit

by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Pat Schories (Illustrator)

For fans of Clifford and Spot, welcome everybody’s favorite little yellow puppy, Biscuit, in an I Can Read adventure! Biscuit is excited to be at the ball game, but no dogs are allowed in the game itself. He doesn't just want to watch, though—Biscuit wants to play ball, too! Can the determined puppy find a way to join in the fun? Just right for the youngest of readers—and for anyone who has ever wanted to play along with the big kids—Biscuit's ball game adventure will prove supremely satisfying. Biscuit Plays Ball is a My First I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for shared reading with a child.  

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Dogs, Fiction, 1st Grade, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Alyssa Satin Capucilli was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, and pursued her interest in dance, becoming a professional dancer and dance instructor. Though Capucilli had written stories, poems, and even puppet shows as a child, she didn't consider a career as a writer until after her own two children were born. To this day she sees herself as both a dancer and a writer, and the two professions complement each other nicely: dancing is, in her words, “telling stories in another way,” and readers of her children's books can attest to the rhythm of her language. Since 1994, she has written more than 15 books for children, and her work has been translated into French, Hebrew, Afrikaans, Greek, and Bulgarian.

Capucilli lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with her husband and children. They have a chocolate Labrador retriever named Huckleberry, who likes to watch the author at work.

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: Biscuit really want to play ball, but his owner says no. Will he find a way to play?
Critique: This book is an engaging emergent reader, but a word of caution the reading level is much more difficult than labeled I would say it’s a spring kindergarten book or beginning first grade level.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, Biscuit is great. Woof, Woof!

[Isabella]

biscuit loves playing ball

[Gordondad2nine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read to the granddaughter in Virginia

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing ball is fun!⚾️🏆

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 0.9

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Biscuit is adorable and getting in the way in the sweetest way possible, and everyone is happy in the end with some teamwork.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 year old daughter loves Biscuit and so do I.

[Chris Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best of the series, but my son enjoys it.

[Lorellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tot loves balls and Biscuit, so this one was a double hit.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s no fun to just sit and watch the game. You got to play the game! Which is just what Biscuit does.

[J.P. Sirro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with all other Biscuit books, this is another good one. I think the story lines are very simple which is great for kids reading, tough to read over and over as a parent.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read aloud by himself at 5yo, no words missed)

[Gracelynn Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was super fun to read. I feel like I could read this book EVERYDAY!

[Phillip Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dogs and baseball. What could be more American? 🇺🇸

[zhanghao · Rating 4 out of 5]

We played ball with the puppy.

[Amanda]

Biscuit Plays Ball by Alyssa Stain Capucilli is about a sweet dog named Biscuit who wants to play ball with his owner. Biscuit wants to play ball, but his owner is trying to play with her friends. Biscuit continues to attempt to play ball and gets scolded by his owner. Eventually, Biscuit gets ahold of the ball and ends up deflating it. Then he sees his other friend, Puddles, who has a replacement ball. In the end Biscuit and his owner have fun playing ball.

This book is entertaining and brightly illustrated to hold the attention of new readers. The illustrations are double-page spreads. They typically fill up the majority of the page. The text is placed outside of the images and doesn't interfere with the images. The use of bright primary colors make it easy to see and will hold the attention of young readers. The text is simple enough that beginning readers can understand the story.

[Erin McAnarney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Biscuit Plays Ball" is a brilliantly entertaining book for young children who are in the early stages of their reading careers. The book is fun and well illustrated providing children who read it with humor and laughter. The book teaches children a sense of companionship and how close the bond can be between pet and owner. It also encourages children with pets to take care of them in the correct manner. A great choice for children in Kindergarten as it is relatively simple and the illustrations compliment the narrative well, providing humor and capturing the attention of the audience.

[Travis Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Biscuit, who wants to play ball; however, puppies are not allowed. Biscuit then eventually finds out how to play. This book would be great to incorpoate as a read aloud, as youngsters often want to play with older kids. This will encourage a discussion regarding the topic of wanting to play with older kids and sometimes being rejected.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a "Shared My First Reading I Can Read" book. Repetitive words on multiple pages. Small three or four word sentences. Biscuit is an adventurous puppy, he won't stay where the little girl tells him and follows her into a soccer game she and her friends are attempting to play. He accidentally flattens the ball but his friend another puppy comes with his ball and rescues the day.

[Stephanie K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biscuit owner wanted to enjoy a ball game with her friends but Biscuit was not happy that he was not included. Biscuit probably was sad and lonely. He would not listen to his owner commands (sit, stay) Biscuit was extra happy when he found his other friend Puddles and they were able to ball with their owners.

Lesson Plan: review of feelings (happy, sad, glad, upset)

[Arwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biscuit is cute as ever, but this story just didn't seem as well put together as some of the other Biscuit books. The kids are playing ball and Biscuit wants to join, but its not a game for dogs.

[Maddypictures · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I just took 15 points of cute damage, from this ridiculously adorable puppy. The story is fairly slight; Biscuit rambunctiously punctures a kickball, forcing the kids to switch to a whiffle ball game instead. Cuuuuuute.

[Christina Swain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biscuit plays ball! is perfect for a shared reading with young children. I would implement this story in my classroom by first taking the kids on a picture walk. I would ask them to look at the pictures and determine if they can tell what exactly is going to happen.

[Kevin Huot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a dog who likes to play ball and will disregard all commands to stay when he sees a ball. I didn't enjoy this book because I feel like it shows that selfishness is ok. I would use this book to show kids why it is important to share.

[Jasmine Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for Jasmine. The short sentences were easy for her to read. She only had trouble with a few words. My girl is on the road to reading! :)

[Pinky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Biscuit plays baseball with his owner.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biscuit is adorable and so are all of his books. This particular title was just right for my early reader.

I secured this title from my local library.

[Cin-Ru · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book is funny and cute and the Biscuit want play the ball too but he can't.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute Biscuit book! Biscuit is a bit naughty in this one, but his "pet" is super nice to him anyway.