Scaredy-Cat Catcher

Gym Shorts #4

by Betty Hicks, Adam McCauley

The latest book in the Gym Shorts series is a grand slam with new readers. Rocky was the best catcher in the league until an out-of-control runner broke his arm. Now his arm is healed, but he's developed a reflex that keeps him from tagging out the runner. Young readers will root for Rocky as he and his friends--and even his dog, Chops--set out to prove that he's no scaredy-cat.

Genres: Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2009

About the author

Betty Hicks has drawn on her experience and love for sports in Gym Shorts, her new series for seven to ten year-olds. Growing up, Betty enjoyed everything: basketball, swimming, softball, horseback riding, field hockey, ice skating, tennis, skiing, and more. As an adult, she’s an avid fan of college basketball and the Olympic Games, and, an average fan of just about everything else you can think of.

In Gym Shorts, Betty welcomed the opportunity to provide younger readers with books about different types of athletics—basketball, soccer, swimming, baseball, track, tennis—you name it! But she especially wanted to write books that weren’t just about the wins and losses on game day. Friendships, fears, school, parents, pets, homework—all the things that weave their way into the lives of kids who play sports—are a crucial part of every story.

Betty has also put her own single and stepparent experiences to good use in five additional books for eight to twelve year-olds. Depicting funny, true-to-life family situations, Betty brings laughter and meaning to the experiences of growing up, not just in a divorced family, but in any family.

Betty has a BA in English and an MFA in the Study and Writing of Children’s Literature from Hollins University. She has published stories in Highlights and Pockets magazines, is a member of The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and has worked as a book reviewer for Children’s Literature.

She and her husband, Bill, live in Greensboro, North Carolina. She spends much of her non-writing time reading, traveling, playing golf, and pursuing her photography hobby. But her number one favorite pastime is hanging out with her five grandchildren. Not only do they bring her joy, they unknowingly give her exciting subjects and plots for every new book!

Reviews

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the Gym Shorts series, I found this book a little disappointing since her book for older kids, Out of Order, was so wonderful. This series is for younger readers, 2-3rd grade, and features a group of friends that all participate in different sports but have issues their friends help them resolve. In the "swim team" one Rita has to learn to flip, Goose has to learn to be a goalie in the "hockey" book and in this one, Rocky has to get over his fear of having his arm broken as a baseball catcher, (which had happened to him the previous year.) So I recommend for sports fans of both sexes that aren't particular about literary quality..I guess these are on par with Magic Tree House.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rocky, the catcher, was injured in a previous game causing him to have a reflex which is hindering him from playing his best now. After much frustration, the problem is solved with the help of Rocky's friends and his dog. This is a good beginning chapter book.

[Ratforcekids · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sports series for young readers called Gym Shorts. Each book in the series is a story about a different sport--baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer and more. Illustrations and fast-moving plots make this an excellent series for readers just starting out in the chapter book world.

[Janet Weber · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was bored with this

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great series issuing sport contexts to deal with real issues that the characters face.