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  • Published: 5 December 2023
  • ISBN: 9780823451494
  • Imprint: Holiday House
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $34.00

Hoggy at Bat



When baseball-newbie Hoggy can’t get his head in the game, he learns that having fun is the way to win in this early reader comic.

When baseball-newbie Hoggy can’t get his head in the game, he learns that having fun is the way to win in this early reader comic.

Now that this former ball hog has learned to be a team player, Hoggy’s friends think he’s a real catch. But Hoggy feels more at home on the basketball court than he does on the baseball diamond. He wants to hit the ball so flawlessly that it soars over the fence. Instead, it’s a swing and a miss. 

When Hoggy strikes out, the pressure is on. Can he learn to relax and enjoy a fun game with his friends? Or will the pressure to win keep him from stepping up to the plate?

Geisel medalist Ethan Long hits a home run with his expressive art and encouraging messages about teamwork, perseverance, and the value of just having fun—perfect for early comics and social emotional learning collections.

Comics-lovers can now share the fun with their kids, students, siblings, and younger friends who are learning to read!

I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds.

I Like to Read® Comics, like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterpart, are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.

We hope that all new readers will say, “I like to read comics!”

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

  • Published: 5 December 2023
  • ISBN: 9780823451494
  • Imprint: Holiday House
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $34.00

About the author

Ethan Long

Ethan Long (www.ethanlong.com) is the author and illustrator of numerous books, including Clara and Clem Take a Ride.

Also by Ethan Long

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Praise for Hoggy at Bat

PRAISE FOR HOGGY WENT-A-COURTIN':
"This early reader’s simple format allows beginner readers to remain focused on the text while enjoying splash pages, sound effects, and the small details that make the visual experience of a comic so much fun. . . . Hoggy’s story is also a well-crafted lesson in how to deliver a meaningful apology."Kirkus Reviews


"This colorful friendship story is an approachable introduction to graphic novels for early readers."—School Library Journal

"Long brings an invitingly cartoonish style to the artwork in this I Like to Read Comics book, with bright colors and dynamic motion. . . . Long's play on the term ball hog makes for a comical premise, and the resolution of the friendship conflict will resonate with plenty of kids."—Booklist