This is a right load of balls, but I mean that in the best way. By the time we get to the specifics of their physics (drag, gravity, trajectory etc) we've encountered a host of balls, introduced by lively illustrations and an almost limerick-styled verse, and then talked about in more scientific prose. The two styles of delivery actually gel together and don't clash, and the balls are interesting to read about. I for one didn't know the name of the stipples on basketballs (pebbles, apparently), so all ages may learn something. OK, it leaves out table tennis, pool and only has an apologetic nod to crazy golf at the end, but we do go from marbles to zorbing, so it's a wild and varied ride. The artwork is ultra-inclusive, too, for those to whom that matters. I think this is a strong four stars – it was a fine way to prove that balls could deserve their own book, however unlikely that seems, and justified my time with it easily.

With tongue twisting brain teasers and rhyming words we want to know: Why are some balls fuzzy? or have holes? or are of a size? Learn why!
The illustrations by Suharu Ogawa are simple, colorful, and support the prose.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected galley proof from Kids Can Press via NetGalley.
***** review #goodreads #storygraph #NetGalley #BookBub #librarything #KidsBookstagram
#ThisIsHowaBallRolls by Heather Tekavec @heathertekavec and illustrated by @suharuogawa @kidscanpress #childrensbookillustration #kidlit @childrensbookcouncil #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #moreillustrations #kidlitart #science #children_illustration #KidLit #KCP #IGReads #BooksForKids #ReadingTime #StoryTime #picturebooks #nonfictionpicturebook #ireadcanadian #inclusive #indigo

Different kinds of balls but make it science. Had a blast reading this for my son. As a 4 years old, my son loves balls. He has almost all the balls mentioned in this book. Although I simplified the book for him, he still had fun reading experience.
The illustrations were so good, and the representative of different races, skin colors, faith, and disabilities were the best part of this book. This book is not just about balls but also about inclusiveness.

Thank you to Heather Tekavec, Suharu Ogawa, Kids Can Press Publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is such a nice mix of fun and education! As a nonfiction fan, I appreciate books that can teach while also keeping things lighthearted, and this one nails it.

The narrative itself is lighthearted and fun with each page introducing a different type of ball. The way the science behind different balls are presented is engaging and clever. Each page features tongue-twisting descriptions that had my son giggling while we learned about tiny marbles to giant Zorb balls.

The illustrations were actually very nostalgic for me! They reminded me of the illustration style of books from my childhood. I found myself flipping back to admire the scenes just as much as I was reading. The book also does a fantastic job of blending STEAM concepts with sports, which I thought would make it a great resource for classrooms and family reading time.

My 3-year-old's review of this book: I have a lot of toy balls and I really like them all so I like this book a lot. My favorite part of the book is all of the balls.

If you're looking for a fun, educational book, I highly recommend adding this one to your collection. I think it would be perfect for anyone who loves to learn in a playful way.

Let's just get this review rolling, shall we? Wink, Wink......
But in all seriousness, "This is How a Ball Rolls" is a fun and creative way to share information on one of the most universally loved items - a ball. With so many different kinds, this books does a great job with using descriptive language to explain so many different types of balls and how they are used.

I love the illustrations of those using the balls and in the settings where so many others can be seen around the activity happening on the pages. The illustrations are colorful and engaging and pair wonderfully with the words. Not to mention how all of the objects in the background all are creatively round and reminiscent of balls as well. I would love to also acknowledge that I greatly appreciate that so many people, especially those of different abilities are illustrated in this book enjoying the balls. It is wonderful to have so much representation and allow readers to see themselves in the books they read.

I greatly appreciate the section at the end of "The Science of (wobbling. bouncing, spinning) balls and the worlds best ball trivia. As a teacher, this is the section that I would absolutely highlight when using this book in the classroom as a mentor text to tie to a physics unit.

A bright and engaging book on the many orbs of sports and recreation, where each double page spread has a little rhyme about a different type of ball, progressing in size (an organization system I’ve personally never seen before) from marbles all the way up to Zorbs, as well as a text box giving a more formal description and introducing concepts like elasticity and air resistance that are expanded upon in an appendix at the end. The diverse cast of recurring characters, including a living yarn ball and a little spherical chick with bunny ears who hides in every picture, along with the opportunities to guess what ball comes next at the end of every double page, means this is ideally suited for a read-aloud book for younger children, while the more technical but still straightforward language of the text boxes means it can also be used by older children as well.

The only point of note, not necessarily a defect but still odd, is the choice of the balls described in this book. While there are standards like tennis ball and bowling ball, several are quite unusual, like juggling ball and the aforementioned Zorb. These choices are even stranger in the light of a final spread which depicts several types they left out of the book, such as golf balls and volleyballs. I suppose there’re only so many choices when you’re going with strict size progression, but I hope for sequels.

I love this idea of turning it into a guessing game where the reader thinks about different kinds of balls based on different physical characteristics. Physics doesn't have to be hard if it's introduced early, and this was a fun way to introduce several concepts. This is the kind of book every young reader should have access to.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

A nice intro to physics through different types of balls. It has more in-depth text as well as shorter readalong style sections, so it can be used for different purposes. The illustrations are colorful and fun. This will likely appeal to many kids, especially boys.

Thank you for the ARC. I will purchase for my library.

Beyond simple play, this book reveals the hidden mechanics and physics behind everyday balls, offering young readers a unique blend of fun and foundational science.

The book takes about twelve different balls used in various sports, listing them in the ascending order of their sizes. The introductory text is in the form of a guessing game, encouraging little readers to take a guess. From a tiny marble to a giant, human-sized Zorb, this entertaining book takes us through them all. If you have wondered why the tennis ball has fuzz on it, or what the notches on the basketball are called, then this book is for you. Entertaining, playful, and exciting, this book covers it all for the young learners.

A delightful and valuable resource, this book successfully sparks scientific curiosity through the engaging world of balls, making it a highly recommended addition to any young learner's library.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This is a great introduction into balls in all there sizes and abilities. I never knew there was so much thought put into how certain balls are made and how they perform. A very interesting book.

Netgalley ARC - This is a fantastic science-y sensory engaging book that could work on multiple levels for multiple ages of readers. How wibbly wobbly!