Goal! - Bluebonnet Nominee

This Bluebonnet nominee for 2011 is a story of a group of boys who have to hide their ball from bullies while playing soccer in South Africa.  Ajani has received a soccer ball as a reward for being the best reader in the class and he and his friends want to play, but know if they are not careful then their ball could be taken away by the older boys.  They even take turns standing guard on the lookout for bullies. When the bullies do finally show up, Ajani and his friends have a clever way of saving their ball.
Mina Javaherbin tells a wonderful story that is captured by the vivd illustrations by A.G. Ford.