Mo Jackson Sports series, by David Adler
To say that Mo Jackson loves sports is an understatement! Unfortunately, Mo isn’t the best player on his football, baseball, basketball, or soccer team. He’s not the strongest swimmer or runner. His lack of stature and skills keep him on the bench, but one thing Mo doesn’t lack is enthusiasm. Nothing can crush Mo’s spirit.
Book 1: Don’t Throw It to Mo!
Mo is passionate about football. Unfortunately, Mo is small and skinny, and he isn’t strong so he spends most of his playing time on the bench. The day the Robins play the Jays, coach decides to try a secret weapon to help the Robins win. Coach puts Mo in the game and tells him to run toward the end zone. Then, he tells the quarterback not to throw the ball to Mo. The Jays don’t even run after Mo because they know that he can’t catch the ball. This happens twice. On the third and last play, the Coach orders a play that wins the game.
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Book 2: Get a Hit, Mo!
Mo loves playing baseball, but being smaller and younger than the rest of his teammates, Mo bats last and plays right field. He can’t hit any pitch, and no one ever hits a ball out to right field so Mo doesn’t get too much action. When Mo’s team, the Lions, play the Bears, the Bears score two runs in the first inning. During the second inning, Mo takes his turn at bat. “Strike one!” cries the umpire. “Strike two!” “Strike three!” Poor Mo goes back to the dugout. During the last inning with two outs, Mo steps up as the last batter of the game. Is the game doomed?
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Book 3: Pass the Ball, Mo!
It’s basketball season! All Mo Jackson can think about is basketball and basketball practice, but vertically challenged Mo has a difficult time. When he passes the ball to a teammate, he can’t get it high enough, and it hits the teammate’s knee. Coach keeps telling him to throw it higher! Mo practices passing with his dad and tries to throw the ball higher. Then, the big game comes, and Mo sits on the bench and sits some more. Finally, the other players are tired, and coach has to put Mo in the game. A rebounded ball hits the rim and lands in Mo’s hands. Can Mo throw the ball high enough to make a basket?
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Book 4: Kick It, Mo!
Mo Jackson loves sports, and soccer is no exception. He’s getting ready for soccer season by kicking everything- his bed, his desk, his pillow. Mo has a good kick, but it’s too powerful. He can’t manage to keep the ball low along the ground. Every time he kicks a soccer ball it goes flying through the air. At the soccer game- Billy Goats vs. Pups, Mo runs up the field and down the field. He gets so tired, he’s not sure he can run anymore. Toward the end of the game when the score is still zero to zero, the Pups goalie blocks a shot and throws the ball back out onto the field. It lands at Mo’s feet. Will Mo kick the ball into the goal or over it?
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Book 5: Swim, Mo, Swim!
It’s field day, and Mo and his friend, Ken, are members of the Guppies. Whatever team wins the most medal gets extra ice cream so the boys are excited to get started. First up- Ken and the egg race. Unfortunately, Ken goes too fast and drops the egg on his shoe. No medal for the Guppies! Ken and Mo cheer on their teammates in the potato sack, the backward race, and the three-legged race. Mary wins the Guppies a medal in the backward race! Now, each of the four field day teams have a medal. There’s one medal left. Can Mo swim faster than anyone else? He starts at the back of the pack, and then, something tickles his foot! All Mo thinks about is getting away from whatever lake creature is nibbling his toes!!
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Book 6: Run, Mo, Run!
Mo, Jenna, and Dov comprise their classroom’s relay team. With the race after school, Jenna and Mo practice during lunch. The first time Jenna runs toward Mo, he takes off running before she can pass the straw. When they try again, Mo drops it. That afternoon, Mo has trouble paying attention in class. He practices passing the straw from hand to hand behind his back. While Mo waits for his relay race, he pulls a jelly donut out of this pocket and eats it getting jelly all over his hand in the process. Who knew that Mo’s sticky hand would give him an advantage in the race?
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Stayed tuned for Book 7: Spike It, Mo! coming January 11,2022.
