Alexander and the Magic Moose is a delightful children's book written by author Kathryn Lasky. The story revolves around a young boy named Alexander who discovers a magical moose in the woods near his house. The moose, named Marvin, possesses incredible magical powers and quickly becomes Alexander's best friend. With Marvin's help, Alexander embarks on a series of exciting adventures. They travel through fantastical worlds, meeting talking animals, brave knights, and wise wizards along the way. Marvin teaches Alexander important life lessons about courage, friendship, and the power of imagination.
Elevation means home runs, aka “taters” in the game’s parlance, and the Giants’ pitchers will be facing Padres’ lineup that is stacked with superstar sluggers.
Mexico Devils mascot Roccy performs during a Mexican League baseball game against the Quintana Roo Tigers at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City, Sunday, April 23, 2023. San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler 19 sports an emblematic San Francisco Giants t-shirt honoring Mexico and its Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, as he talks to reporters in the dugout before they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif.
Marvin teaches Alexander important life lessons about courage, friendship, and the power of imagination. Throughout the book, Lasky weaves a heartwarming tale that captures the essence of childhood innocence and wonder. The story emphasizes the importance of using one's imagination, daring to dream big, and believing in the extraordinary.
Gigantes mascot sf
Mexico Devils mascot Roccy performs during a Mexican League baseball game against the Quintana Roo Tigers at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City, Sunday, April 23, 2023. Mexico City will be host of an upcoming Major League Baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
By Evan Webeck | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: April 28, 2023 at 5:15 a.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2023 at 4:38 p.m.SAN FRANCISCO — Tacos, tequila and taters await the San Francisco Giants in Mexico City, where they play two games this weekend against the San Diego Padres, the first-ever regular season MLB contests in the metro area of more than 22 million and, at approximately 7,300 feet above sea level, the highest-altitude games in MLB history.
“I’m excited to see the city. I hear it’s awesome,” Giants starter Logan Webb said. “I’m not excited for the elevation, that’s for sure.”
Elevation means home runs, aka “taters” in the game’s parlance, and the Giants’ pitchers will be facing Padres’ lineup that is stacked with superstar sluggers.
“Somehow I got lucky enough to not pitch in that series,” Webb said with a grin.
The games are Saturday (3 p.m., Pacific) and Sunday (1 p.m.) Both will be televised locally and on the MLB Network.
Situated on the central Mexican plateau, surrounded by peaks that climb to 16,000 feet, the former Aztec capital turned bustling metropolis and foodie mecca will play host to the two NL West clubs this weekend at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. The intimate ballpark – it seats 20,062, about half the capacity of Oracle Park – was built in 2019 and sits nearly a half-mile higher in the sky than Colorado’s homer haven, Coors field.
And oh, did we mention it’s only 325 feet from home plate to either foul pole?
“I heard about that,” said Giants first baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr., who was excited to add a second stamp to his passport but lit up at the prospect of hitting at elevation. “That should be fun. Still gotta stay within your approach. If the ball goes, the ball goes. You’ve still gotta put good contact on it. You can’t try to chase that fence. Just see the ball and hit it.”
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – APRIL 21: Aerial view of the Alfredo Harp Helu baseball stadium at Magdalena Mixhuca sports facility on April 21, 2020, in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
More exciting for the players is bringing the game’s highest level to a new, enthusiastic audience.
When it’s not moonlighting as MLB’s 31st venue, the Mexico City ballpark is home to Diablos Rojos del México, a storied club with a history in the Mexican League dating back to 1940. Their owner, whose name is on the stadium, also has a stake in the Padres and has hosted them for exhibitions but never a regular-season game until this year.
This will be the fourth MLB game played in Mexico. The other three were in Monterrey, most recently in 2018 when the Padres played the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The series is part of an effort by MLB to bring the game to international audiences, with games planned for London, Paris, Japan, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the coming years. It’s something Wilmer Flores, one of four Spanish speakers in the Giants’ clubhouse, hopes happens more often.
“I wish every year there’s one of those (series) in Latin countries,” said Flores, who is Venezuelan. “They’re really big baseball fans. … Especially in Latin countries.”
The trip comes with costs for the league and the teams involved. While the Giants didn’t lose two home dates on their schedule — the Padres did – the Giants swapped an easy trip to San Diego for a four-hour flight to the Central Time Zone. No team will travel more miles this season than the Giants, who have already visited four road cities, all east of the Mississippi River.
It’s an inconvenience, for sure, but the Giants don’t want to view it that way.
“You have to take it for what it is and try to enjoy it,” pitcher Ross Stripling said. “ It’s two of 162, and (think) how fired up that city and that fanbase will be to watch two teams play major league baseball.”
As part of the collective bargaining process, players receive a bonus for participating in the games outside their normal travel arrangements and at facilities that don’t usually host major leaguers.
“It’s essentially an East Coast trip for us,” said outfielder Austin Slater, the Giants’ player representative with the MLBPA. “So it’s an inconvenience but it’s also like, players understand that it’s important to grow the game.”
San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Manaea (52) sports an emblematic San Francisco Giants t-shirt honoring Mexico and its Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, after practice before they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April, 12, 2023. The Giants and the San Diego Padres will play two games in Mexico City this weekend, April 29, and 30. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler (19) sports an emblematic San Francisco Giants t-shirt honoring Mexico and its Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, as he talks to reporters in the dugout before they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April, 12, 2023. The Giants and the San Diego Padres will play two games in Mexico City this weekend, April 29, and 30. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Manaea (52) sports an emblematic San Francisco Giants t-shirt honoring Mexico and its Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, after practice before they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April, 12, 2023. The Giants and the San Diego Padres will play two games in Mexico City this weekend, April 29, and 30. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler (19) sports an emblematic San Francisco Giants t-shirt honoring Mexico and its Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, as he talks to reporters in the dugout before they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April, 12, 2023. The Giants and the San Diego Padres will play two games in Mexico City this weekend, April 29, and 30. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Show CaptionStripling, Joc Pederson and Alex Wood were teammates with the Dodgers when they played in Monterrey in 2018, a trip made more memorable by the no-hitter pitched by Walker Buehler and three relievers.
“I just remember feeling how excited they were that we were there,” Stripling said. “The stadium was popping.”
While Stripling came away with nothing but positive reviews from his first visit, he said he’s more likely to stick to the club’s swanky quarters in a posh part of the city rather than venture out on his own. Flores, on the other hand, wishes he had more time to explore, while Slater said, “I’m not gonna be dumb, but definitely go explore some sights.”
“I feel like I’ve been tainted by movies,” Stripling said. “You know, you see Sicario a few times and you’re like, maybe I shouldn’t go to the local coffee shop. So I’m probably going to lay low.”
While Mexico City has become a world-class dining destination, players have been told to eat their meals at the team hotel, out of fears of steroids in local beef that could get flagged on a PED test.
“No taco is worth 80 games,” one player said, a reference to the standard MLB suspension for PED use..
Even though the stadium is small, players expect it to be rocking. The country’s passion for the sport was on display at Chase Field in Arizona this spring, during the World Baseball Classic. The only games that approached the raucous environment were those in Miami, where Team Mexico played.
Webb took note of the atmosphere when his favorite NFL team, the Raiders, played in Mexico City in 2016 and 2017, and while watching Mexican winter league games.
As Alexander and Marvin face challenges and overcome obstacles, young readers are encouraged to embrace their own uniqueness and embrace the magic that lies within. Lasky's writing style is engaging and whimsical, making it easy for young readers to get lost in the story. The characters are lovable and relatable, and the illustrations beautifully bring them to life. The magic and enchantment of Alexander and the Magic Moose make it a perfect bedtime story or a fun read-aloud for children of all ages. The underlying message of the book is clear - magic can be found in unexpected places, and everyone has the power to create their own adventures. This captivating tale will surely leave readers with a sense of wonder and a desire to explore their own imaginations. Overall, Alexander and the Magic Moose is a charming and imaginative children's book that teaches valuable lessons about friendship, imagination, and embracing the extraordinary. It is a must-read for young readers looking for a magical adventure-filled story to captivate their imaginations..
Reviews for "Alexander's magical companion: The moise with a secret"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Alexander and the magic moise". The story was incredibly predictable and lacked any depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it hard to care about their journey. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the story on an emotional level. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in what should have been an exciting adventure.
2. John - 1 star
I couldn't stand "Alexander and the magic moise". The writing was extremely weak and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be clever and whimsical. The plot was barely existent, with major events happening without any explanation or logical progression. The story lacked coherence, which made it difficult to follow and ultimately made me lose interest. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging fantasy novel.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"Alexander and the magic moise" was a huge letdown for me. The premise had so much potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was off, with dull moments dragging on and action scenes feeling rushed and underdeveloped. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused about the rules and logic of this fictional universe. I was hoping for a captivating adventure, but instead, I was left feeling bored and disconnected from the story.