Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Let's play Quacky Baseball!

There's a new picture book out just in time for spring training. QUACKY BASEBALL stars a lovable baseball player named Thumby Duckling. Thumby has kindly agreed to sit down for an interview.


*Thumby fluffs his feathers and sucks his thumb*


Me: Thumby, thank you for stopping by. Can you tell us how you got your adorable name?


Thumby: I actually wanted to have the nickname "Butch" but I learned that it's hard to give yourself your own nickname. Others give it to you. In my case, other ducks supposedly caught me sucking my thumb.


Me: Thumby suits you much better than Butch anyway. Why do you play baseball?


Thumby: Baseball is fun. And I love the sounds of baseball - crack of the bat, whistle of the ball as it zooms by, chatter of the infielders. "Hey batta batta" - that kind of thing.


Me: And we can’t forget the hot dogs and peanuts! Thumby, what does it feel like to play in a real game with people cheering you on?


Thumby: Scary and great at the same time. And I don't want to give away what happens at the end of Quacky Baseball, but it was a wonderful feeling.


Me: I agree, Thumby. The ending of Quacky Baseball made me want to stand up and wave my foam finger. Tell us about your teammates.


Thumby: What a team! Take Flakey Duckstein. He twitches. And there's Manny El Pato, who flew in from the Dominican. No one understands him in any language. And don't forget the mighty Medwick Ducky. There's a secret to his name - you could look it up.


Me: Oooh, a riddle in your answer. Nice. *pulls up Google search* Thumby, tell us about the author of Quacky Baseball, Peter Abrahams.


Thumby: He's some sort of writer, doesn't sound very interesting to me.


Me: *gasps* A writer who is not interesting? Impossible! Thumby, thank you for taking time from your hectic baseball season to chat with us about Quacky Baseball.


Quacky Baseball was written by Peter Abrahams and illustrated by Frank Morrison. Please stop by the following blogs for the Quaky Baseball tour.


Monday, March 28 - Megan Frances Abrahams - On Beyond Words & Pictures - interview with Kristin Daly Rens, Senior Editor, Balzer & Bray


Wednesday, March 30 - Corey Schwartz Corey Schwartz - author Peter Abrahams on the genesis of Quacky Baseball


Thursday, March 31 - Diane Browning - Out of the Paintbox - interview with illustrator Frank Morrison


Friday, April 1 - Hilde Garcia Pen & Ink - interview with author Peter Abrahams


Saturday, April 2 - Lori Walker L.H. Walker - book review/synopsis with input from Lori's children


New York Times bestselling author Peter Abrahams has had 25 published novels - three as Spencer Quinn, and 22 as Peter Abrahams. His YA thriller, Reality Check, won the 2010 Edgar Award for best young adult novel. His latest YA thriller, Bullet Point, (Harper Teen) was released April, 2010. Peter also wrote the Echo Falls series - three YA mysteries. The first in the series, Down the Rabbit Hole, was the 2006 Agatha winner for best children's Young Adult fiction, and the next two were both Agatha Award nominees.

32 comments:

  1. Thumby Duckling sounds fun. Would love to read it.

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  2. Okay, this was just made of awesomeness!! Loved it!

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  3. Thumby ducking is adorable! So nice that he stopped by your blog. I'm glad he didn't end up here by mistake, I shudder to think what might have happened if he'd met the big bad wolf...

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  4. So cute! I'm not all that into baseball, but Thumby might make me change my mind. :-)

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  5. How perfect for the beginning of baseball season. Very cute! Love Thumby's description of his teammates.

    Go White Sox! ;)

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  6. wow - this guy is a prolific writer.

    btw just saw your previous post -- you were chased by a rattlesnake??? yikes!!!!

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  7. Such a cute way to write a book preview! I love that he wanted his nickname to be "Butch," but he knew the world had to give him one. Great post and way creative!

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  8. What darling characters. Love the illustration style as well.

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  9. Thumby sounds sweet and probably fun. Abrahams is definitely a prolific writer. Congratulations.

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  10. Thank you Julie and Thumby (aka Peter) for the fun interview!

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  11. Sounds like a terrific book! Love the pics too :)

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  12. What a cute interview! Favorite part: the names of the characters, especially Flakey. Least favorite part: when Thumby doesn't think "the writer" is very interesting.... how can he be such an ungrateful duck? :) Great idea!

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  13. Too cute! This book sounds great and I love the cover. :)

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  14. I love your approach to this post, and I'm always on the look out for great children's books. Thanks for the heads up. :)

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  15. Quacky Baseball sounds so cute, my kids would love this since they haven't read anything about baseball before. Nice!

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  16. How cute. I do love good picture books. The Echo Falls series is at our library!

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  17. Just in time for the season. I think I drafted Thumby Duckling in my fantasy league. Best wishes for Peter and Frank with their tour!

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  18. Thumby is too cute! Thanks for posting this fun interview!

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  19. Too cute! I loved this interview!

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  20. Enjoyed the interview. Too cute!

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  21. What a cute cover! Nice twist to interview the character.

    My daughter and I are listening to the audiobook of Down the Rabbit hole right now.

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  22. Lots of fun, Julie. Enjoyed this visit.

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  23. Thumby is so cute and sounds like a lot of fun! I would love to read it!

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  24. This is the most delightful interview I've ever read. I now love Thumby and the other characters. I know this is a book my youngest grandsons would love.

    Yes, let's just relax and enjoy the A to Z ride.

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  25. How creative, this interview! :) I enjoyed it. Thumby is such a cute name.

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  26. Came over thinking you would be in the A - Z. But I saw this cute post instead. Delightful.

    Denise<3

    L'Aussie Travel Blog A - Z Challenge

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  27. Julie,
    This was too cute! I love it...you know, I laughed at the nickname reference because I've always wanted a nickname. Growing up my initials were TC and my friend's dad would call me Top Cat! but no one else ever did...my husband calls me TC; just not nickname-worthy person I guess!

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  28. This is so cute. I love Thumby's comment on the writer. Ha, ha.

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