Books with title Frank and Ernest Play Ball

Good Dog, Carl creator Alexandra Day’s dynamic duo Frank, a bear, and Ernest an elephant, are back, and this time must master the language of baseball during their stint as managers of the Elmville Mudcats- a minor league team. The animal pals have their work cut our for them; the team is in the cellar (in last place in the league) and Frank and Ernest have to do everything- sell tickets, run batting practice, announce the game to the fans, and more! But once they learn the right language, it all seems easy… Soon expressions like “fly hawk”- a skillful outfielder; “smoke artist”- a pitcher who throws lots of fastballs; and “can of corn”- a ball that’s been hit so high it can easily be caught- no longer sound strange to the animal friends. Readers will cheer for Frank and Ernest whose skill with the lingo makes for a great day at the ballpark! First published in 1990, we welcome the opportunity to re-present this Alexandra Day book full of the secret language children love, as well as a story of cooperation, and friendship.

First published in 1988 and now back by popular demand, Good Dog, Carl illustrator Alexandra Day’s Frank and Ernest is the entertaining tale of a bear and an elephant who learn to run a diner. The charming illustrations of the Deco-era diner and the novelty of its animal employees will appeal to children, but the diner slang that Frank and Ernest learn and use will delight parents and children alike. Frank and Ernest will reveal the meaning of “burn one, take it through the garden and pin a rose on it,” “a stack with Vermont and a blonde with sand,” as well as “guess water,” “balloon juice,” and “million on a platter.” As in her popular Carl books Day excels at visual jokes and loving detail, but in Frank and Ernest the text is as delightful as the pictures. In skillfully executed paintings Day depicts a diner that is sure to evoke nostalgia among old-timers. Children should enjoy adding these novelties to their vocabularies, and making the connections that inspired the descriptions is good fun. Kirkus Reviews Clever and original, this playful romp serves up its message with a smile. It’s bound to become standard fare…. School Library Journal Frank, appearing as Elephant, and Ernest, as Bear, answer an ad for someone to run human-shaped Mrs Miller's diner for her. Bibliophiles that they are, the friends research the lingo of the diner restaurant trade, and with grace and aplomb they serve a "bow-wow. . . red" (hot dog with ketchup), "nervous pudding," (Jell-O"), and "white cow" (vanilla milk shake"). Alexandra Day's paintings render a mannerly world of measured language and punctilious decorum. Mrs. Miller returns safely from her trip, and we are enveloped in nostalgia--it was all so recent, so very long ago. Peter F. Neumeyer. - Professor Emeritus University of California, Berkeley. Author and recipient of the Ann Devereaux Jordan Award by The Children's Literature Association.