Ray's Reviews: Go Spartans by Darla Hall

        If you’re getting ready for the big football game on New Year’s Eve, the
phrase “Go Spartans” is likely to be on your mind.

        It’s also the title of a colorful new 48-page oversize paperback, selling
for $14.99. Attractively designed as an activity book, it can provide fun
for the whole family.

        This is an ideal choice for the die-hard Spartan fan, particularly if you
have 6-to-12 year-old children.

        This book was created by Darla Hall, from Birmingham AL. and her
business, In the Sports Zone. She developed it initially as a gift for a
young boy she knew who was hit by a car and broke both of his legs.

        A portion of the profit is donated as activity books for children
in local hospitals.

         It is part of a nation-wide series of over 100 books promoting
collegiate sports as well as professional baseball and football teams.
It’s organized to be useful this season or actually any season – since no
sports stars are mentioned by name.

        The book opens with a few pages for drawing, allowing you to describe
your winning football or basketball play. There’s also a page where you
can draw yourself, family, friends or favorite player.

        Other highly-creative sections offer games, mazes, connect the dots,
trivia, word searches, cut-outs, a crossword puzzle, MSU facts and song
information.

        A dozen pages are devoted to “Dream Teams”, where you can design your own
MSU Dream Team, with spaces for names, positions and personal data.
Included are areas where you can create your own card front or back
designs.

        There are four pages at the end of the book designated as writing
sections, where you can become creative, noting what you would do if you
were selected as the team coach, what you love about Spartan football
and more.

        An attractive page of MSU related decals are tipped in at the rear of the
book. Information is also provided on how to download your free app at
the ITunes Store.

        Adults with considerable time on their hands may find it challenging to
count how many times the Sparty symbol, Block S or Spartan logo appear
throughout the book. I gave up when I counted almost 200 of them!

        Ray Walsh is the owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed
Michigan books and crime novels regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on December 27, 2015.