Randy Riley's Really Big Hit

Van Dusen’s tale is inventive and humorous. Randy is a lovably nerdy genius who is admired for his brains and is part of a team that doesn’t seem to mind his poor batting average. Gouache paintings use clean crisp lines and sharp, bright colors in a variety of perspectives. Everything from the cars in the driveways to the living-room décor places the events in pre-computer, mid-20th-century America. A cunning twist on the heroic home run that wins the game.—Kirkus ReviewsWith all the bases covered-musical text, entertaining artwork, and surefire subject matter-this title bats 1,000 for group or lapsit read-alouds.—School Library JournalRandy may be an easy out with a bat, but his heroism merits a spot at the heart of any budding geek’s lineup.—BooklistIn this retro rhyming tribute to mind over batter, Van Dusen casts a wide net: anyone who’s a fan of nerds, “Casey at the Bat,” classic science fiction, or mid-century design should find something to like in these eye-popping pages.—Publishers WeeklyChildren will enjoy the adventures of a young boy who used his love of baseball to save the day.—Library Media ConnectionYoung Randy Riley has two passions: science and baseball. But he’s more of a student than an athlete. As Chris Van Drusen puts it in verse: “See, Randy was a genius;/he just couldn’t hit the ball./He struck out every time at bat./He wasn’t good at all.” But when Randy spies through his “Space Boy telescope” a massive fireball hurling toward Earth, his way with robots saves more than a game. In science fiction, there’s more than one way to hit a home run.—USA TodayChris Van Dusen’s RANDY RILEY’S REALLY BIG HIT won me over at first swing… There’s a cool retro feel to this sci-fi rhyming book along with some gloriously comic special effects. It’s just scary enough to be a page turner and brings a whole new twist to kids and baseball.—The Boston GlobeWith a nod to “Casey at the Bat,” a dash of science geek, and the impending destruction of the earth, RANDY RILEY’S REALLY BIG HIT has something for everyone.—Huffington Post Parents blog

Kate DiCamillo is the author of the first two stories starring the porcine wonder, MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE and MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE. She is also the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which won the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; THE TIGER RISING, a National Book Award Finalist; and THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chris Van Dusen has illustrated all the books in the Mercy Watson series. He is also the author-ilustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUI