World Cup Mouse by Richard Seidman Review

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2014 | Ashland, Oregon

Visit www.WorldCupMouse.com for contact details, review copies, photos, and an author bio.

“Where there’s a mouse there’s a way’

Soccer-playing mouse has ambitious dreams in World Cup Mouse,

 a new book for 7 to 10 year-olds by Richard Seidman

“Where there’s a mouse, there’s a way,” says Louie LaSurie. But it will take more than lofty words for Louie to achieve his goal: to be the first mouse to play for France in the World Cup soccer tournament.

World Cup Mouse (May 2014) by Richard Seidman is a comic, action-filled tale of friendship and pursuing one’s dream even when it seems impossible. For example, how can Louie ever manage to kick a human-sized soccer ball and not just the dried pea with which he has been practicing? How can he avoid getting squished by the thrashing feet of the giant humans? And can he overcome his own self-doubts and fiery temper? Aided by his best friend, François, and the human girl, Rose, Louie gives it his best shot.

Louie's ambition and personality are brought to life through Seidman’s words and artist Ursula Andrejczuk’s illustrations in this book for seven to ten-year-olds. “I love the humor and absurdity of Louie’s aspiration,” Seidman says, “and at the same time I admire his crazy determination and chutzpah. He inspires me, even as he makes me laugh.”

Seidman will contribute a percentage of the profits of each book sold to organizations that support youth soccer around the world.

“I had tears in my eyes and chills up my spine,” reported one reader.

Another reader said, “You know, I thought it would be for really little kids because there's a talking mouse, but actually I really enjoyed it and I'm almost eleven."

World Cup Mouse releases just in time for the 2014 World Cup tournament that begins in June in Brazil.

Richard Seidman lives in Ashland, Oregon where he writes books for children and adults. For more information, go to www.worldcupmouse.com.

Bio

Richard Seidman

 author of World Cup Mouse

Richard Seidman loves to make jokes and, as he puts it, “funny business.” He says that’s one of the main reasons he enjoys writing – to amuse himself and children (and also the big children that are called “grown-ups”).

For Richard, funny business is a way to love life, and it’s also a way to transform sorrows. His ancestors, their hearts full of stories and hopes, fled to the U.S. from Poland and Ukraine in the early part of the twentieth century. Forty years later, Richard was born in Brooklyn, New York.

When he was growing up, playing games and sports and reading were the main things he enjoyed, and they’re still the main things he enjoys today! 


Richard wound up in Portland, Oregon where in 1989 he founded the nonprofit tree-planting group, Friends of Trees. In 1996, he was honored as a “Community Hero” for his role as the group’s founder and carried the Olympic torch in its national relay.

In 2001, St. Martin’s Press published his nonfiction book for adults, The Oracle of Kabbalah: Mystical Teachings of the Hebrew Letters. Richard will be releasing a revised edition, The New Oracle of Kabbalah, in fall of 2014.

He’s a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and a founding member of a local children’s book writing critique group. He’s also the editor and compiler of a nonfiction children’s book published by Benchmark Education, I Am Deaf and I Dance: A Memoir.

In the fall of 2013, after training in the martial arts for eighteen years, Richard earned a black belt in Shotokan Karate.

He now lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife, Rachael. For more information about Richard and his books for children, visit www.richardseidman.com.

My Review:

This book should be made into a movie. It reminded me of Stuart Little. What I liked most was that the mouse, Louie, wanted to play in the World Cup. However he is not used playing with an actual soccer ball. What he has is determination, and bad luck. First players are out due to illness, and then he has to deal with a human foot. I love stories for children that root for the underdog and teach children that people are different, but when working together anything can be achieved. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.