The Great Ball Game: How Bat Settles the Rivalry Between the Animals and the Birds; A Circle Round Book came onto my radar due to the fact my bookstore will be having an event with this person in a few days. I figured, if I was to come and view it might be nice to have read the book (author appreciate that you know). When I read it online via a reader copy, I was glad I did not purchase it. I mean, it was good, but not my particular to my particular tastes. It is modern in its tone, ideas, and execution. Rebecca Sheir might have based the story on several first nations of North American folklore, but it is very much a “now” book.
The host of the podcast, Circle Round (I am not familiar with podcasts, but I will say I know it is a pod and it is a cast). And Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is the artist, and I am not sure if he has a podcast or is part of it as I got this information from the publisher description).
What I did not need to get was the story. Two groups are fighting over who is the best: The Birds with their wings, soaring above all or The Animals with their teeth and slithering, bouncing, jumping ad more. It is not until Bat enters the picture (neither bird as they have teeth or animal as they have wings) does the truth come out. Which is to celebrate being different and our differences.
Though the artwork was interesting. Now, they are not my favorite, but they have a charm to them. You can see some humor, the characteristics of the animals (with heavy influences with Native People symbols) and most of their diverseness (of course all animals are lean, except the turkey, but that’s for another story, so we see idea looking people and not completely realistic). The cover tells you all you need to know about the internal art.
For the most part, this is for all ages as you can adapt it to fit younger readers/listeners. Plus there are activities at the end that all ages can partake in.