The Big Race

Margaret Bunel Edwards is the author of Little Stitch, The Ocean
Between, and The ABCs of Writing for Children.

Neil is angry at Robin Apple, who is in his Grade 3 class. Robin picks
the best bookmark. Her snail, Curly, wins the snail race. And Robin
catches Neil’s best baseball hit and puts him out. At the next game,
Neil swings his bat and hits the ball toward Robin, just to show her.
The ball strikes her face, breaking her nose. Feeling guilty, Neil later
visits Robin and persuades her to play a game of scrub with him when
she’s better. Thanks to Neil’s persistence, Robin gradually regains
the confidence to play baseball again. She and Neil are finally friends.


Children will relate to the theme of rivalry and to Sylvia McNicoll’s
characters, who change and develop as her fast-paced and exciting story
builds to a satisfying conclusion. Recommended.