RAYMOND AND GRAHAM

Best friends Raymond and Graham bring their usual antics to the game of baseball in their annual attempt to win the Millcreek Little League Championship (Raymond and Graham Rule the School, 2009). The class bully is on the rival team, and it will take all of the dynamic duo’s best efforts to make the most of their advantages and overcome the difficulties ahead. The increased pressure from female spectators’ presence really gets to Raymond, especially when yellow Gatorade spills down the front of his uniform pants. Learning the coaching signs provides added opportunities for confusion as the games progress. While Raymond worries, Graham has confidence to spare in his baseball skills (and most everything else). Both boys are learning the ins and outs of the game, but the humor inherent in their interactions goes far beyond baseball. Knudson’s focus on sports adds some flair to a series that is already winning fans and providing enjoyment for third- and fourth-grade readers who like the slightly larger-than-usual font, the short chapters and Curtis’s appealing illustrations. (Fiction. 8-11)