Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions
by Darshana Khiani (Author) Dow Phumiruk (Illustrator)
An unforgettable tale of persistence and problem-solving, based on the amazing true story of a Thai soccer team who made their own place to play.
In Thailand's Phang Nga Bay, atop a network of stilts, floats the village of Koh Panyee--where a group of boys loved soccer but had nowhere to practice. Where could they find space to dribble, juggle, shoot, and score? The boys looked out at the water and started gathering tools. Even while their neighbors laughed, they sawed wood, hammered nails, and tied barrels together. The team worked for weeks to build Koh Panyee's first floating field--a place to practice, and a place to transform their community...
With engaging soccer scenes and atmospheric images of southern Thailand, this inspiring book follows a group of boys who became a team long before they had jerseys or even a field. Plank by plank, they built their dream.
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Kirkus
A stirring story of perseverance.
ALA/Booklist
A great read-alike for Julie Abery and Chris Sasaki's Sakamoto's Swim Club.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4--In Koh Panyee, a village on stilts in Thailand's Phang Nga Bay, a group of boys shares a love for football (soccer in the U.S.). Playing football in a floating village is nigh impossible. Even as the whole village makes fun of them, the boys build a floating soccer pitch. With practice, they're able to compete in a real tournament on dry land. Only after witnessing their success do the boys' families and neighbors stop ridiculing them. Based on a true story, this is a charming if wordy tale of perseverance. Many pages feature multiple sentences or paragraphs spread across the page. Dialogue, ellipses, italics, and words in all uppercase create a complex reading experience for an otherwise simple story. The digital artwork is colorful but lacks depth. Characters are flat and there is no discernible light source in most illustrations. Bodies sometimes feature elongated limbs and awkward poses that make football scenes feel static. However, the scenes depicted enrich the text by providing readers with more information. Backgrounds are colorful and attractive. Back matter includes notes from the author and illustrator. VERDICT Recommended only for large collections.--Chance Lee Joyner
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
JNF038020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | Asia
JNF053200 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Values & Virtues
JNF054130 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Sports & Recreation | Soccer
Thailand
Teamwork (Sports)
Soccer
Cooperativeness
Soccer for children
Sports fiction
Soccer fields
Ko Panyai
