Book list
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Fresh off of Mitchell Goes Driving (2013), our curly-headed four-year-old hero gets a break from knocking stuff over at home to knocking over pins, courtesy of his understanding pop. It's enough to make any young reader want to hit the lanes: There were lots of brightly colored balls, a good pizza smell, and giant crashing noises. Indeed, Durand gets a lot of mileage on just how darn unusual bowling is, what with the scoring computer, ball-return system, and blowing machine. Unfortunately, Mitchell dwells in Gutter City, while his dad depicted in a great, three-panel side view has perfect form and, to add insult, does a steamin'-hot-potato dance to celebrate. Set within illustrations that take advantage of multiple extreme angles, Fucile's scraggly characters have a contagious manic energy, with Mitchell occasionally breaking into Looney Tunes-style running-in-place. All ends well, of course, with father and son joining together to bowl a perfect SSSSSTTTTTRRRRRIIIIIKKKKKE! --Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist

Publishers Weekly
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In Mitchell's License (2011), Mitchell pretended his father was a car, racing him (rather ignominiously) around the house. Dad gets his revenge in this sequel when he takes his son to the bowling alley and throws strike after strike. Mitchell knocks down a few pins, but not without difficulty. "That's when the people next door asked for a new lane," Durand deadpans as Fucile shows Mitchell sprawled on a neighboring lane. Just when Mitchell is ready to give up, his father finds a solution that works for both of them. Mitchell's energy remains second to none. Ages 3-7. Agent: Pippin Properties. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal
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PreS-Gr 2-Since Mitchell enjoys knocking things down, his father sees a natural outlet for all of his energy: bowling. So begins this second book about the raucous boy and his cool dad introduced in Mitchell Goes Driving (Candlewick, 2011). At the alley, the four-year-old sees long lanes and brightly colored balls. He picks up the heaviest one he can find and quickly learns the term "gutter ball." Next up, his dad does a kick with his leg as he releases his ball and scores a solid strike. While watching his dad celebrate with the "steamin' hot potato dance," Mitchell yearns to make his mark. Fucile's exuberant illustrations pop on every page and the ratio of word to illustration is very balanced. The story is played for laughs, but, in the process, readers will enjoy the father/son relationship and subtlely learning about being a sport. Mitchell's frustration and anger issues are addressed and his dad's patience pays off. Readers will enjoy meeting this pair as they bond at the alley.-Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.