THE FARM TEAM

For a game of shinny, also called pond hockey, Bailey pits the Farm Team, a bunch of farm animals, the largest no higher than the top of the goal (according to the rules), against the Bush League Bandits, a gang of churls and louts—weasels, porcupines, grizzlies. For 50 years, the Farm Team has lost, but they’ve continued to practice and have improved. In fact, this year, the Farm Team has a winning formula, combining finesse with sheer bulk as a cow plays goalie, neatly blocking the net. Despite cheating, stomping and tromping, the barbarians gratifyingly crash and burn, thanks to the smallest of the team, Little Pete, the pig, and Mariette, the chicken. Is there a lesson here? Maybe, but it sure is fun to get to it. Slavin’s goofy acrylics playfully realize the joyful mayhem of shinny, and Bailey’s story gets the competitive burn just right, even for a bunch of chickens, sheep and piglets. (Picture book. 5-8)