#RoadtoReading : Don’t Throw it to Mo!

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.

Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

When working with newly independent or emergent readers to build confidence and foster a love of reading, it’s important to explore their interests, and allow them to take an active role in selecting their reading material. If a child is passionate about dinosaurs, superheroes, princess or sports, imagine how thrilled they’ll be to discover a book that celebrates that passion! Reading can and should be a pleasure, and a large part of that pleasure comes from reading books that appeal to us and interest us.

This week’s title, Don’t Throw It To Mo!, is a great option for young football fanatics that celebrates perseverance, self-belief, and the enduring appeal of the indefatigable underdog.

Mo Jackson is the smallest and youngest player on the Robins football team, but what he lacks in size or strength he more than makes up for in determination and enthusiasm. The burly players of a rival team don’t think too much of Mo as a player. They think he’s too small and too much of a butterfingers to be taken seriously. But Mo believes he has what it takes to play football, and so does Coach Steve. A clever new strategy that turns Mo’s perceived weaknesses into strengths might just be the key to winning the big game, and could help Mo earn the respect of his teammates and opponents alike.

This early reader is perfect for sports-mad youngsters who will immediately relate to the optimistic little boy who sleeps snuggled up to his football with a basketball and a baseball bat on the floor. There’s a great bit of dramatic tension as Coach Steve suggests an exciting new play, and the ending is sweet and satisfying. Don’t Throw It To Mo is fun little story for emergent readers that celebrates the potential of the little guy, and will appeal to the underdog in all of us.