Clack, Clack! Smack!

ISBN 9781623541934
August 6, 2024

Vann loves playing his tribe’s stickball game, but he’s not as skilled as his teammates. Vann stumbles, and he tries and fails to score. How can he help his teammates win? 

Exciting and fast-paced, Clack, Clack! Smack! reminds readers that sportsmanship and being a team player is just as important as being the star. Back matter explains the origins of Cherokee stickball and how that differs from the game played today.

REcognition

2024 Junior Library Guild selection

RAVE REVIEWS

  • "Writing in terse, alliterative prose—“a tackle, a twist, and a wrong turn”—Sorell skillfully builds tension as she choreographs this action-packed game. Erb’s thick-lined cartoon illustrations have a pleasing solidity; they capture the chaos and drama of the game and depict players with a range of brown skin tones . . . Stand and cheer for this fast-paced tale of sportsmanship and community."

    —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

  • “Teamwork makes the dream work in this stickball-centered picture book from Cherokee creators Sorell and Erb . . . Onomatopoeic text relays the “CLACK CLACK” of play while subtly outlining the sport, and bold-lined digital illustrations capture the fast-moving match alongside the ample community watching from the sidelines, making for a work that supplies a strong sense of camaraderie and competition—and allows for values to win the day.”

    — Publishers Weekly, starred review

  • "This fast-paced and exciting reflective story on sportsmanship and overcoming self-doubt provides concise representation into Cherokee cultural activities while keeping the story relatable to many growing readers."

    ─ School Library Journal

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