Watch Me Throw the Ball!

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the pressure to perform, feeling discouraged by a new skill, or taking a game so seriously that the fun has vanished. While the plot follows Piggie's hilarious attempts to throw a ball despite Gerald's technical critiques, the deeper story is about the tension between achievement and enjoyment. It perfectly captures the moment a child realizes that 'getting it right' is secondary to having a good time with a friend. This early reader is ideal for children ages 4 to 8 who are beginning to navigate organized sports or playground rules. It uses humor to model how to handle failure with grace and how to support a friend who has a different perspective on play. Mo Willems uses minimalist illustrations and expressive dialogue to normalize the feeling of being a 'beginner' while celebrating the resilience required to keep playing even when you do not win.