Spike It, Mo!

Mo Jackson

by David A. Adler, Sam Ricks (Illustrator)

Mo plays volleyball at the beach in this next title in the perenially popular, Geisel Award-winning series by David A. Adler!

Mo and his parents are enjoying a sunny day at the beach! When the water is too cold to swim, Mo and his dad go for a walk and run into some of Mo's friends who are playing volleyball. After learning the rules, Mo and his dad join in to serve, set, and spike the ball. When the score is tied, will the smallest boy on the team be able to secure the game-winning point?

Genres: Sports, Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile, Summer

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2022

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mo and his family are at the beach when Mo and his dad are invited to join a volleyball game. Mo is frustrated he isn't tall enough to spike the ball, but he still has fun.

I'm pretty sure this is the only picture book featuring volleyball I've ever seen. It does a pretty good job of explaining the basic terminology and parts of volleyball for kids.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mo is back and playing beach volleyball. His dad and he join the game and Mo makes the winning point - by accident.
Continued fun for lower elementary level readers as they see Mo explore another sport. Love the emphasis on his dad and he playing together.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mo is on the beach with his parents and he wants to swim but the water is too cold. While walking on the beach with his dad, they spot a volleyball game and join!

This is a good book about volleyball fun for young readers.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great sports book for beginning readers!

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty cute sports related beginning reader book. I did think it got a bit repetitive in the middle with the "Mo's dad hits the ball to Eve. Eve hits the ball over the net" etc.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story and fun early reader.

[RG]

Mo tries something new! He might not be the best but it's worth trying!

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was about Mo and his dad playing volleyball. And they won.