Baseball - America's Favorite Pastime    Most cultures have some sort of stick and ball game, cricket being the most well-known. While the exact origins of baseball are unknown, most historians agree that it is based on the English game of rounders. It began to become quote popular in this country in the early 19th century, and many sources report the growing popularity of a game called "townball," "base", or "baseball".    Throughout the early part of that century, small towns formed teams, and baseball clubs were formed in larger cities. In 1845, Alexander Cartwright wanted to formalize a list of rules by which all teams could play. Much of that original code is still in place today. Although popular legend says that the game was invented by Abner Doubleday, baseball's true father was Cartwright.    The first recorded baseball contest took place a year later, in 1846. Cartwright's Knickerbockers lost to the New York Baseball Club in a game at the Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey. These amateur games became more frequent and more popular. In 1857, a convention of amateur teams was called to discuss rules and other issues. Twenty five teams from the northeast sent delegates. The following year, they formed the National Association of Base Ball Players, the first organized baseball league. In its first year of operation, the league supported itself by occasionally charging fans for admission. For more of the interesting history of baseball go to http://www.baseball1.com/c-history.html.    Having played softball with a team of nuns ("Oh, Sister, please do not hit the ball out of the park, we only have one left!"), the crack of a bat is the true sound of summer to me. With baseball season in full spate we can observe the game right from its youngest players of T-Ball to the brand new Washington Nationals team. Radio and TV bring the game to the homes of millions of fans but nothing beats the opportunity to see a game from the stands, while munching the ubiquitous peanuts and hot dogs. Reading about baseball is a great "second best" experience and may serve to spur some new fans and renew old ones. Take a look at the following books to give yourself a reminder of why baseball is called America's favorite pastime. Contributer: Sheilah Egan Abner Doubleday, Boy Baseball Pioneer Montrew Dunham Illustrated by Cathy Morrison    Part of the "Young Patriots" series originally published in 1965 as a part of the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series, this title tells the story of young Abner Doubleday, the presumed inventor of baseball. Although the evidence to suggest this was weak, the Mills Commission gave him the credit, and, in 1907, the Baseball Hall of Fame was built in Cooperstown where Doubleday grew up. The novel tells of Doubleday's early days in a small town--waiting for the arrival of General Lafayette during a military parade, playing with his brother, pestering his mother to re-sew his ball, finding a trunk stolen by a robber, and, of course, playing ball with the gang. These events lack any sense of coherence and move forward in time with little development of the characters who were involved. Due to the abrupt narrative and plot-driven structure of the novel, it is difficult as a reader to connect with Doubleday, his family, or his pals. The most useful information in the text comes in the final few pages in the form of biographical information about Doubleday. For example, we learn that he graduated from West Point, joined the Army, and fought in the Civil War. There is also some discussion as to whether or not Doubleday was indeed the inventor of the game and the controversy surrounding the attribution of such status. As reference materials, these last few pages serve their purpose well, while the novel does nothing to engage readers or inform them meaningfully about the life of a young man who grew up to be worth knowing. 2005 (orig. 1965), Delacorte, $14.95 and $9.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Wendy Glenn, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-8828-5949-9 ISBN: 1-8828-5950-2 ISBN: 978-1-8828-5949-8 ISBN: 978-1-8828-5950-4 Ballpark: the Story of America's Baseball Fields Lynn Curlee    Continuing in his tradition of superlative nonfiction, Lynn Curlee has tackled the history of baseball through a look at the greatest ballparks of all time. While this picture book exceeds the standard 32 pages, even the 48 it takes to tell the story serves only to whet the appetite for more. I am not a huge sports fan of any kind, but I do find baseball engaging enough. Despite my lukewarm interest in the subject, I was enthralled by the scope of the book: what Curlee focused on, how deeply he chose to go, and how broad his knowledge was. I read the whole thing cover to cover when, typically, a book of this kind only gets a cursory glance from me. As usual, his illustrations are at once stylized yet evocative. I think anyone with even a passing interest in baseball will find this history of ballparks--and thus the game itself--exciting. 2005, Atheneum, $17.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). Best Books: Kirkus Book Review Stars, January 15, 2005; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 7, 2005; Cahners; United States Top 10 Sports Books for Youth, 2005; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Parent's Choice Award Silver 2005 Non-Fiction United States ISBN: 0-689-86742-5 Baseball Jonatha A. Brown    Structured like a book with many more pages and content, this title opens with a table of contents listing the four chapters, a glossary, a section for more information (books and web sites) and an index. Readers are introduced to the history of baseball, which probably had its roots in games played more than 200 years ago. Today, baseball as we know it is played and watched by millions of kids and adults. For those who do not know anything about the sport, the playing field and object of the game are explained. The next chapter relates some exciting moments in baseball and talks about home runs, double and triple plays, and the final chapter describes the World Series, which is the oldest professional championship in North America. The web sites at the time of this review were active and age appropriate. The book list, however, did not have publication dates for the books. Part of the "My Favorite Sport" series, which features excellent photographs and diagrams along with an interesting text. 2005, Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, $19.33. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8368-4337-1 ISBN: 0-8368-4344-4 Casey at the Bat Ernest L Thayer Illustrated by Joe Morse    It is interesting when you read about the history of this poem, which has been around for more than one hundred years and is familiar to many. The author did not even want to take credit for it because he felt it was such an inferior example of his writing. How amusing that this is probably the poem that is most frequently associated with his name, and that the rest of his work is relatively unknown. This version is really one for contemporary tastes-it almost looks like a graphic novel. The bold illustrations use just four colors and depict a series of inner city ball players-who indeed look larger than life and are as serious about the game as the fans are. Teachers and librarians who are looking for material that will attract older students, many of whom are already reading graphic novels, may find this one an easy sell. For any baseball fan, this book is definitely one with plenty of appeal. 2006, Kids Can Press, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-55337-827-X ISBN: 978-1-55337-827-3 Catch Will Leitch    Tim Temples has just graduated from Mattoon High School in rural Illinois. College at the University of Illinois beckons next fall but first Tim has to sort out a few things. Most of Tim's classmates are staying in Mattoon to work in the bagel factory. Tim must decide whether he wants to step away from the comfortable world of being a popular athlete in a small town or accept the frightening reality of change. Tim's summer job at the bagel plant introduces him to Helena, a young woman with some bark who works as the boss's secretary. Surprisingly, Tim gets to know Helena, and their relationship teaches him a great deal about himself, his past, and future possibilities. In the end Tim must make a hard but natural decision about moving on with his life and accepting the inevitability of change. Written with a loving touch and a wry sense of humor this title is a memorable novel. Will Leitch has crafted a coming-of-age story that is reminiscent of Gilbert Grape or Catcher in the Rye. In the person of Tim Temples, readers will meet a character that rings true and will stick in their memories. Tim's summer of searching for himself evocatively captures the world of blue-collar folks trying to stay afloat in small town America. This is a novel that adolescents and adults will enjoy and think about well after the last page has been turned. 2005, Razorbill, $7.99. Ages 16 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-5951-4069-7 Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream Crystal Hubbard Illustrated by Randy DuBurke    This biography of an African-American female baseball player can do double duty if you are looking for stories that feature underrepresented groups. More importantly, however, this is a compelling story about following one's dreams, however much they fly in the face of mainstream expectations. You do not have to be interested in baseball to be captured by the story of how persistence, practice, and sheer spunk helped young Marcenia Lyle win herself a place at an all boy's baseball camp in the late 1920's. The "Afterword" lets us know that by 1937 Marcenia "Tony Stone" Lyle had begun a fifteen year career playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, on both minor and major league teams. As is often true of sports writing, the language is vivid. Just the verbs in Hubbard's paragraph allow us to picture exactly how Marcenia scored a winning run: pitcher snared, ran, Marcenia doubled back, turned and bolted, sailed, pumped her arms and knees harder, dropped her weight and slid. The colorful illustrations are equally vivid. Without being distracting, the faces and figures show a trace of artist Randy DuBurke's background with Marvel comics. The brilliant blue background in many of the pictures somehow seems appropriate for a story about pursuing a dream that seems as unattainable as catching the moon. 2005, Lee & Low, $16.95. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature).    Author Crystal Hubbard hits one out of the ballpark with Catching the Moon. Young Marcenia Lyle loves baseball but her dream of being a professional ballplayer seems as unreachable as the white orb outside her window at night. In the 1930s, the only jobs available to African American women are teacher, nurse and maid, according to her parents, who worry about their daughter's tomboy ways. But Marcenia keeps playing and even convinces Mr. Gabby Street, the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, that she be allowed to attend his boys-only baseball camp. The book ends with the happy girl feeling that "she had reached right up in the sky and caught the moon in her glove." An afterword reveals that Marcenia Lyle, under the name Toni Stone, became the first female member of an all-male baseball team. A great read-aloud for February's African American History Month, this tribute to the power of dreams is further enhanced by Randy DuBurke's engaging pictures of energetic Marcenia. 2005, Lee and Low, Ages 5 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-5843-0243-7 Dottie Wiltse Collins: Strikeout Queen of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Carolyn M. Trombe    Dottie Wiltse Collins was a star softball player from Southern California. She joined the Minneapolis Millerettes in 1944 and played with them and the Fort Wane Daisies for six years. During her career, she pitched 223 games, 1205 strikeouts, and earned a run average of 1.83. Author Trombe has done considerable research on her subject, including interviews with Dottie Collins and those who knew her. Collins grew up with baseball; her father played second base for the semipro National Niteball Baseball League in Inglewood, California. Her father was instrumental in developing his daughter's skill as one of the best pitchers in the softball leagues of Southern California and in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Collins loved to play baseball and did so throughout her school years. Then she joined the Millerettes in 1944. During her fourth season of play, Collins decided to leave the game temporarily when her husband returned from military service. Collins did not stay away from baseball for long. She rejoined the team in Fayetteville, N.C. for an exhibition game. After she retired from baseball, she took up golf and in 1999, was honored as Celebrity of the Year at the Celebrity Golf Tournament. Black-and-white illustrations, as well as a bibliography are included. 2005, McFarland & Company, $24.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7864-2188-6 Free Baseball Sue Corbett    Felix Piloto, an eleven-year-old living in Florida with his mother, is a baseball fan. He does not know his father who was a baseball star in Cuba. He wants to know about him but his mother is no help. Then a chance to learn something offers itself when a baseball team with a few Cuban players comes to town. Felix wins tickets to go see them play and through a series of circumstances becomes the team's bat boy. A funny poignant story about a boy looking for his roots the only way he knows how. 2006, Dutton, $15.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: María E. Gentle (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-525-47120-0 Heroes of Baseball: The Men Who Made It America's Favorite Game Robert Lipsyte    I was not looking forward to reading this book, since baseball has never been a sport that attracted me. I dutifully read the introduction and said to myself, well that was interesting; and I did recognize many of the names, so I kept turning the pages. Yes, there are statistics for those who love to read and quote them-most home runs, most consecutive games, most stolen bases and so on, but what was really interesting was learning about the men who started professional baseball, the players as well as the managers, owners and others. Those who Lipsyte chose to highlight as his heroes are probably on most people's lists, and only a few names were really new to me. Obviously since I read the newspapers, I knew about more of the current players and the battle between Roger Marris and Sammy Sosa out to break the home run records. The behind the scenes information about the players such as Curt Flood and how he fought to allow players to move freely among teams, the incredible animosity that Jackie Robinson faced as he broke the racial barrier in the game and came to be one of the true greats of baseball, and the shame brought on by the game fixing in the past and the gambling of one of the games great stars Pete Rose and the infusion and impact players from Latin America and Japan brought the story of baseball into much better focus. Lipsyte writes extremely well and the weaving of real-life stories of those involved make this book fascinating. I read every page, looked at all of the pictures (there are plenty), and took some time to study the timeline that runs on both inside covers. If I had one small quibble, it is the occasional repeat in either a caption or the text of a piece of information, but that should not discourage anyone from reading this excellent history of baseball and many of its most famous players. I learned more about the game, and one day I might even go to a ball park and watch one. 2006, Simon & Schuster, Ages 10 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-689-86741-5 ISBN: 0-689-86741-7 Hit the Ball Duck Jez Alborough    Affable Duck, hero of the humorous Duck's Key and Duck in the Truck, sets out with his friends Goat, Frog, and Sheep to play baseball in the park. Jolly rhymes describe Duck's SWOOSH and CRACK of the bat as he knocks the ball up into a tree. There it stays, in a tree too prickly to climb. Throwing the bat up after it, lands the bat in the tree as well, as does tossing up the glove. The friends then climb one on top of the other, which brings Duck almost within reach. Now is the chance for Frog, who was too small for the ball game, to make the difference, bringing everything down. And by catching the ball, he gets to call Duck "OUT!" There is an exuberance to the depiction of the animals that turns this simple tale into a comic opera. Visualized in horizontal and vertical panels that help animate each act, the short lines of verse are almost redundant captions. Exaggerated gestures and facial expressions tell the story of the anthropomorphic quartet with gusto, from the front endpapers' view of them in the stunning red truck, to the final endpaper scene of Frog having his turn at bat while Duck enjoys raiding the picnic basket. 2006, Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-1-929132-96-6 ISBN: 1-929132-96-4 Jackie Robinson: Baseball's Great Pioneer Jason Glaser Illustrated by Bob Lentz    Jackie's parents were sharecroppers in the segregated south. His mother, Mallie, decided that Georgia was not the place where she wanted to raise her five children. At the urging of her half brother she moved to Pasadena, California. When Jackie was a teenager he got into trouble while in a gang. Years later when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame he referred to his delinquent days and urged others who feel that life is against them to strive for a better life. Through the guidance of Reverend Karl Downs, Jackie was steered into sports. After college and the military Jackie played baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs, the best team in the Negro American League. Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, hired Jackie to play in the white major leagues. As a child I remember going to Ebbets Field with my father to see the Brooklyn Dodgers play. I was then and still am a Brooklyn Dodger fan. Yea Dodgers! I was also living in Stamford, Conn., where Jackie died in 1972. The book's illustrations are in comic book format and are very effective in depicting Jackie's life. 2005, Capstone Press, Ages 8 to 12, $25.26. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7368-4633-6 Jackie Robinson Sally M Walker Illustrations by Rodney S Pate    Part of the "Yo Solo--Biografias" series, this easy-to-read biography introduces young readers to the life of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player to play in the major leagues This volume is a Spanish translation of the original English language book with the same title The translator's name is not given Using a controlled vocabulary, the author describes some of the challenges, struggles and triumphs of Robinson's life, from his childhood years in Pasadena California, to his acceptance as second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1947 At this time he was the first and only African American playing for a major league Throughout the book, the author emphasizes the adjustments and challenges that Robinson had to face as he faced and overcame the injustices and discrimination of white neighbors, baseball players, officials and spectators The large print and realistic color illustrations on every page add to the readability and enjoyment of this inspiring story An epilogue chronicles the highlights of Robinson's life from 1947 to his death in 1972 A black and white photo and list of important relevant dates is included This biography would be useful for reports and independent reading in bilingual classrooms or libraries. 2006, Lerner, Ages 7 to 10, $23.93. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8225-3126-7 ISBN: 978-0-8225-3126-5 Jackie's Bat Marybeth Lorbiecki Illustrated by Brian Pinkney    This fictionalized account of Jackie Robinson's first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers is told from the possible viewpoint of a young white batboy. Joey had been attending games since he was tiny, but he knows that this 1947 season is going to be the best ever for him. He gets to go right into the locker room. When Robinson arrives, Joey points out the folding chair and nail assigned to him instead of a locker. Then Joey continues on with his tasks of distributing uniforms and polishing shoes. He skips one pair, however. His dad has told him that it is just not right for a white person to be of any service to a black man. Historic incidents from the season are related from Joey's viewpoint as he comes to respect and then to truly like Jackie Robinson. Robinson is depicted as a proficient ball player who is determined to maintain his own self respect, as he earns the admiration of others. An "Afterword" summarizes Robinson's many accomplishments and honors. A "Note from the Author" authenticates Robinson's personal perseverance in continuing on with baseball in spite of initial rejection by his teammates, death threats, and hate mail. Pinkney's watercolor illustrations resemble sketches, with featured figures outlined in black in the foreground and impressionist swaths of color in the background. A fitting and worthy tribute to this brave pioneer in the field of baseball. 2006, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-689-84102-7 Let Them Play Margot Theis Raven Illustrations by Chris Ellison    The story of a black little league team of 11 and 12 year-olds who cared more about the chance to play ball than about the social issues of the day in segregated South Carolina. The author revisits the events of the summer of 1955 when all of the white teams pulled out of little league rather than play the one black team, the Cannon Street All Stars. Not even the classy uniforms their parents and community leaders raised the funds to purchase could brighten the sadness of the boys who held the title of state champions at the end of the season by default. An invitation to attend the Little League World Series in Williamsport Pennsylvania turned out to be another low blow when the boys found out they would not be allowed to play because they had never actually played a game. The title is taken from the shouts of the crowd when the Cannon Street All Stars entered the stadium and sat in the bleachers. Illustrations capture the emotional realities of the era. 2005, Sleeping Bear Press/Thompson Gale, Ages 8 to 12, $ 16.95. Reviewer: Carole J McCollough (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-58536-260-3 Let's Play Baseball Charles R. Smith Jr. Illustrated by Terry Widener    A young boy's baseball is calling to him-"It's me…your baseball. Whaddya say?" The scenes that follow show the boy walking along the sidewalk with and oversized mitt tossing his baseball. Then he rounds up a group of friends for some warm ups--catching, pitching and hitting until he blasts a really big one into the blue sky. He hits the ball so far it takes a trip around Mars. The ending seems a bit ambiguous. Did this fellow really go out and play with his friends or was all of this imagined. It may not matter to kids who will just enjoy the possibility of getting outside for a pick up game. The illustrator has included girls in the game which sends a very positive message. Part of the "Super Sturdy Picture Book" series. 2006, Candlewick Press, Ages 3 to 5, $8.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot(Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7636-1646-X Lou Gehrig Kevin Viola    Author Viola writes a balanced biography on one of America's well-known baseball heroes. Although Lou Gehrig died at the age of thirty-six from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known now as Lou Gehrig's disease, he had already achieved legendary status as a Yankee player. Gehrig was born on June 19, 1903, in New York City. He was the only child of four to survive. His mother was protective and determined he would succeed in life. He soon proved himself a gifted athlete and particularly liked baseball. His favorite team was the New York Giants. In high school, he played baseball and his team won the New York City championship. At the age of nineteen, he left college to sign with the Yankees. His first season was not a good one, and the manager sent Gehrig to play with the Hartford Senators to perfect his game. Gehrig came back to the Yankees and played in the 1926 World Series. In time, his game improved, and in 1931 he had forty-six home runs, 211 hits, and 184 RBIs. His home run numbers tied with Babe Ruth for most in the league. Black-and-white photos are included, as well as a bibliography and web sites. Part of the "Sports Heroes and Legends" series. 2005, Lerner Publications Company, $26.60 and $4.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8225-1794-9 Luke Goes To Bat Rachel Isadora    Luke is too small to join in the neighborhood baseball games but that does not stop him from dreaming about it. At night, from his Brooklyn rooftop, Luke listens to the cheers from Ebbets Field, glowing in the distance, and imagines himself hitting home runs like his hero, Jackie Robinson. When Luke finally does get to join the neighborhood game, he strikes out. Grandma reassures him, saying that not even Jackie Robinson plays like Jackie Robinson all the time. Grandma takes Luke to see his hero play at Ebbets Field and Robinson defies the odds that night and hits one out of the park. Luke decides that like Jackie Robinson, he will keep trying, too. Success is about dreaming but it is also about hard work. Jackie Robinson had to overcome many obstacles to achieve the success he did. While this book does not delve into his specific history, it does speak to both hard work and dreaming as being the key to his success. The message for Luke is clear: work hard and keep your eyes on the prize. Isadora's artwork is evocative of the time and her use of black-and-white to distinguish between reality and the dream sequences is effective. This is an ideal book for any sports lover but for baseball lovers in particular. 2005, Putnam, $15.99. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-399-23604-X MadCat Kathy Mackel    The message could hardly be more familiar--or more needed: kids' sports should be about having fun and doing your personal best, not about winning at that cost of friendship and integrity. In this title, Mackel teaches this moral through a well-told story about a girls' fastpitch softball team that competes all the way to the national championship. Madelyn Catherine (MadCat) is the catcher for her Norwich, New Hampshire, team, and she jumps at the chance to throw herself into national competition. Only then does she learn that this means that close friends will be cut from the team, parents will squabble viciously over playing time for their children, kids will be encouraged to play through serious injury, adults will seek to disqualify opposing teams on meaningless technicalities, and players will be instructed by adults to act illegally and dangerously--all in order to win. Mackel offers sports action aplenty for girl readers eager for sports stories featuring dedicated girl athletes. This is the kind of book where a single game can go on for several chapters of riveting play-by-play reporting. A less successful subplot concerns MadCat's heartbreak over her dad's deterioration from multiple sclerosis, and how his condition seems to improve miraculously as he takes on a coaching role toward the end of the book. An added plus is the frequent descriptions of MadCat's family's marvelous, healthy-but-delicious, garden-fresh meals. Oh, for a taste of their roasted vegetables marinated all day in olive oil and rosemary! 2005, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). Best Books: Top 10 Sports Books for Youth, 2005; American Library Association-Booklist; United States ISBN: 0-06-054869-X ISBN: 0-06-054870-3 Mickey Mantle John Marlin    Author Marlin has written a detailed biography of Mickey Mantle, a popular player with the New York Yankees. Mantle played in a total of 2,401 games, more than any player in the history of the Yankees franchise. Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. His father Elvin "Mutt" Mantle was a big baseball fan and wanted his son to be a baseball player. He even named him after a favorite player named Gordon "Mickey" Cochrane. Mantle grew up hearing about, watching, and playing baseball. He even played basketball and football, but he received a football injury to his ankle that might have prevented him from playing professional baseball. Thankfully, his injury healed, and after graduating from high school, he signed with the Yankees. Through many injuries and setbacks, such as being sent down to the minors, Mantle made it to the World Series. In 1956, Mantle became the second player in baseball history to win the MVP award with a unanimous vote. In 1964, Mantle hit .303, thirty-five home runs, and 111 RBIs. He also hit the longest measured drive in Yankee Stadium history. In 1969, Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from baseball. Five years later, he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. Black-and-white photographs, batting and fielding statistics, a bibliography and web sites are included. Part of the "Sports Heroes and Legends" series. 2005, Lerner Publications Company, $26.60 and $4.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature).    This entry in the reader-friendly "Sports Heroes and Legends" series introduces one of baseball's greatest heroes, the powerful switch-hitter Mickey Mantle. A prologue sets the stage by imparting in chronological order the early training and perseverance it took to excel, and ends with what the author sees as Mantle's legacy to the sport. Boxed quotes from Mantle and coaches, plus interesting facts both of the sport and of his career, are sprinkled throughout the text. Photos grouped at the center of the book cover some highlights of Mantle's career in an era before steroids and other game lay enhancers. In ten chapters with less than 100 pages of text, this paperback-sized hardbound will capture the interest of older readers and satisfy the need for easy-to-read biographies for middle schoolers and upper elementary readers, as well. A rich selection of back matter includes stats, sources for all quotes, bibliography, websites, and an index. 2005, Lerner Sports, $26.60. Ages 10 to 16. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8225-1796-5 A Negro League Scrapbook Carole Boston Weatherford    Negro league baseball experienced one of its high points in 2006, when 17 Negro league alumni were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Such a large election was intended to address baseball's previous failure to recognize many greats of the segregated baseball era The election also reflected the shame of our nation and former national pastime--that professional baseball was once segregated by race, which led to the formation of the Negro Baseball Leagues, where black ballplayers had their chance to play professionally This engaging, quick read is filled with photos of Negro league stars such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, "Cool Papa" Bell and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, plus various items of Negro league memorabilia The photos are the book's strongest point and provide revealing glimpses into the ballplayers' lives For example, one picture depicts a black man drinking from a water fountain labeled for "Coloreds" only The author mentions Negro league alumnus Jackie Robinson breaking major league baseball's color line in 1947 with the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers Regrettably, she does not similarly mention another alumnus, Larry Doby, who shattered the American League's color line 3 months after Robinson's debut There is a chart at the end of the book listing Baseball Hall of Famers from the Negro leagues Unfortunately, there are two omissions from this list as of the book's publication, Doby (inducted in 1998) and Hilton Smith (2001) This book is a good introduction to the Negro leagues that may inspire young readers to further exploration. 2005, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 7 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-59078-091-4 Play Ball! Jorge Posada with Robert Burleigh Illustrated by Raul Colon    This collaboration of author and athlete has produced the story of how Jorge Posada's acceptance of his father's advice resulted in his becoming a world champion baseball player As a youngster Posada was interested in baseball and was developing as a strong right-handed batter; his father encouraged him to train himself to bat left-handed thus becoming a switch-hitter He had a lot of support from his coach and family as he honed his skills Making the change to left-handed batting was hard and frustrating but he persevered and proved the value of his hard work to everyone by making a crucial hit during an important game His family took him to Yankee Stadium on vacation and he announced that he would someday play on "this field." And he did Jorge Pasada is the starting catcher for the New York Yankees, a four-time All-Star Game catcher and four-time world champion He has also founded the Jorge Posada Foundation (The Foundation provides support to families whose child is affected by craniosynostosis, a congenital or birth defect that causes an abnormally shaped skull.) Born in Puerto Rico he now lives in New York with his wife and children Colon's illustrations are quite well suited for presenting this tribute to hard work and determination This lovely book will serve as an inspiration for youngsters who want to perfect some skill of their own--baseball or otherwise--it demonstrates the power of perseverance and of listening to sound advice. 2006, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-1-4169-0687-2 ISBN: 1-4169-0687-8 Roberto Clemente David Fischer    Roberto Clemente's love of baseball overcame the challenges of not being able to afford proper equipment, His belief in working hard and always doing his best earned him a slot with a Puerto Rican league in 1952, and a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. Clemente was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates after the 1954 season and he played for them the rest of his life. Despite segregation laws and harsh criticism from the press and other teams and players, Clemente focused on playing baseball and never forgot the values his parents taught him. The memories of the difficulties he faced when he first moved to the United States encouraged Clemente to promote the presence of other Latin Americans in baseball, going out of his way to welcome them and their families to the United States and a new way of life. Clemente's humanitarian work earned him recognition and respect and in 1973, only months after his death, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Baseball Humanitarian award was renamed in his honor. Fully-illustrated with an index, a glossary, a list of additional sources to consult, and a timeline of Clemente's life, this title is part of the "Trailblazers of the Modern World" series. 2005, World Almanac Library, $22.50. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8368-5495-0 ISBN: 0-8368-5264-8 Roberto Clemente Baseball Legend Nick Healy    Roberto Clemente always worked hard. As a boy he earned a penny a day delivering milk; he did odd jobs to earn extra money. It took three years, but finally he saved up enough money to buy a used bicycle. He worked equally hard at baseball. He practiced anywhere he could - his bedroom, the muddy field full of weeds and trees. But Roberto didn't mind. He was in love with the game. Six short chapters relate Clemente's life story from his Puerto Rican boyhood to his fame as a baseball superstar and his untimely death. This volume is one of the Fact Finders Biographies: Great Hispanics, a series written to help kids learn about influential Hispanics as well as the life and times in which they lived. Black and white as well as color photographs illustrate the text. At the end of the book readers will find parallel timelines of Clemente's life and events in history, a brief glossary, a list of internet sites and books to learn more and an index. 2006, Capstone Press, Ages 8 to 10, $22.60. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-7368-5442-9 ISBN: 0-7368-5442-8 Sammy Sosa Baseball Superstar Nick Healy    When he was young, Sammy Sosa dreamed of becoming a boxer. But his mother disapproved; she didn't want her son to get hurt and so his brother introduced him to baseball. Sammy knew that baseball players from all around the world could become rich and famous. And that was something that Sammy, who had dropped out of school to earn money for his family, wanted. Sammy worked hard, getting up early every morning to exercise and to practice baseball. He wanted to be a good player; he became a great one. From the Fact Finders Biographies: Great Hispanics series, the biography's six short chapters tell the story of the boy from the Dominican Republic who became one of professional baseball's superstars. The easy-to-read text is illustrated with many color photographs. At the end of the book, readers will find parallel timelines of Sosa's life and events in history, a brief glossary, a list of internet sites and books to learn even more about Sosa and an index. 2006, Capstone Press, Ages 8 to 10, $22.60. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature). ISBN: 978-0-7368-5443-6 ISBN: 0-7368-5443-6 Say-Hey and the Babe: Two Mostly True Baseball Stories Neil Waldman    You will have to read this book at least twice-once to enjoy the interesting storyline and once to read through the sidebars and insets that provide historical vignettes to compliment the fictionalized tales. The slang and language used in New York at the time is explained in the sidebars, as well. The story line follows three little boys as they save their lunch money so that they can go to see Willie Mays play baseball. Their story is intertwined with the story of a young girl who was struck by a baseball hit by Babe Ruth in 1927 in Yankee Stadium. Treated by the Yankee's physicians, she was also given a baseball signed by the entire team. This treasured ball was lost by the girl's brother, when his team needed a ball to continue their own pick-up game. The melding of the stories comes when Pete, Moose and Eddie find the "lost" ball in a sewer while searching for the rubber ball that their hero, Willie Mays, had hit while playing stick ball in Harlem in 1951. The pen and ink illustrations have a look of the times without being simply painted sepia to give them an aged appearance. The color illustrations are a combination of watercolor, acrylics, and graphite. There is a lot of baseball history and "trivia" packed into this picture book. The historical note on the last page gives the actual facts behind the stories. You do not have to be a baseball fan to find this one interesting. 2006, Holiday House, Ages 6 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8234-1857-X ISBN: 978-0-8234-1857-2 Softball for Fun! Darcy Lockman    This title presents the rules and strategies for playing softball in straightforward text illustrated with photographs that clearly show the subject or aspect being discussed The history of the game is introduced with the story of George Hancock, who in 1887 decided that "indoor baseball" would be a fun event Eventually his idea became the game we know today as softball, both fast-pitch and slow pitch varieties The author divides the information into logical sections and presents the development of the game through modern times At this time softball is an Olympic sport, but as of 2012 it will not be included in the games The book has a timeline of important milestones, instructions on basic skills, a glossary of softball terms and other words used in the text, a strong index, and a bibliography as well as web sites for those interested in the most popular sport played in the entire United States of America Readers will find ample information in an accessible format that shows the fun and facts about softball. 2006, Compass Point Books, Ages 7 to 10, $22.60. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7565-1682-X Stumptown Kid Carol Gorman and Ron J. Findley    Would you risk your life for your best friend? Charlie Nebraska has experienced a bit more in life than your average eleven-year-old boy. It is 1952 and he lives in Holden, Iowa. Charlie lost his dad in the Korean War and cannot stand his mother's boyfriend, Vern. An avid baseball player, Charlie dreams of playing on the Wildcats team. When that does not materialize, Charlie finds luck right on the field--Luther Peale, an African-American injured professional baseball player, hiding a secret. Because of the time period and it being a small town, Luther is not entirely accepted or trusted in Holden. He is, however, accepted by Charlie Nebraska. The story of Luther and Charlie is remarkable. It will make you laugh, cry, and want to tell everybody you know about this small-town kid and his great friend. This story examines themes such as heroism, friendship, relationships, and racism. You do not have to like baseball to appreciate this story; it is as timeless and powerful as S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. 2005, Peachtree Publishers, $14.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Kelly Grebinoski (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-56145-337-4 Take Me Out to the Ball Game Illustrated by John Stadler Paper Engineering by Gene Vosough    Right from the cover, readers know that this book is going to be a little different. The ballplayers are animals and the baseball fans are a real menagerie. The big baseball announces that this is a pop-up book and the opening spread welcomes readers to the Howlers' Stadium. The inside flap gives a bit of history about the song and what is really amusing is that the songs collaborators had never been to a baseball game, but now it is almost synonymous with the sport. Each line from the song is illustrated with a fairly complex pop-up and lots of detail that younger kids will enjoy. On the spread where the text reads "…root, root, root, for the home team…" there is a pull tab which pulls the fans out of their seats to stand up and cheer for the players. For "three strikes, you're out" the player actually spins as if he were trying to hit a ball. The back cover is also amusing. Instead of quotes from review media or famous people who have read the books it spoofs them "A roar of a read!"-Nolan Lion is a perfect example. For the price it is a pretty good piece of paper engineering. 2005, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $12.95. Reviewer: : Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-698-85917-1 Take Me Out To The Ballpark Josh Leventhal Additional sections by Jessica MacMurray    Leventhal updates his previous editions with the inclusion of the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, DC, the Houston Astro's home renamed from Enron Field to Minute Maid Park, and the opening of new parks, including San Diego's PETCO Park. The sections on the ballparks of the Negro Leagues and the Minor Leagues have been expanded. This stadium-shaped coffee table ode to the ballpark will delight both the young and the old. Readers will appreciate the nostalgia of the early parks and the return to their best features in the new state of the art parks of today. Construction costs, seating capacity, and surface dimensions are provided. There are photographs of the stadiums, text that discusses their unique features, and sections called "Firsts, Feats and Facts" and "Records and Milestones" that will educate young readers on the history of the game and bring back to mind special moments for their parents and grandparents. There are other working parts of ballparks which include the groundskeepers, the concessionaires, the announcers, and the scoreboards. Each of these is a topic for discussion. I discovered two very minor issues. No final stats are given for Olympic Stadium in Montreal for the last Expos game in 2004. The information inside the baseball on page 34 leaves out Eddie Murray's last name. Overall, this will bring hours of enjoyment to every baseball fan. Readers can follow their favorite teams as they travel to various parks during baseball season. It will supply the answers to many trivia questions during the off season. 2006 (orig. 2000, 2003), Workman Publishing, Ages 8 to adult, $29.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-57912-513-1 ISBN: 978-1-57912-513-4 Thumb on a Diamond Ken Roberts Illustrated by Leanne Franson    The cover and title let you know that this book is about baseball, but when you look closely at the picture, you know that it probably is not going to be a serious story. It is an amusing tale about a group of kids living in an isolated village on the coast of British Columbia. They want to go to see the big world outside and they figure out a way. Baseball will be their ticket to Vancouver. While the plot idea is not particularly new, the characters are and it is pleasant to see adults and kids working as a team to pull off this charade. Without spoiling the story-the kids do succeed in learning baseball without ever playing a real game and they also enjoy what the big city of Vancouver has to offer. There is also another message about the feelings that the kids have about their village where everyone knows your name and you know every person who walks down the street. 2006, Groundwood, Ages 8 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 978-0-88899-629-9 ISBN: 0-88899-629-2 ISBN: 978-0-88899-705-0 ISBN: 0-88899-705-1 Two Hot Dogs with Everything Paul Haven    If you are a baseball fan then you know that a lot of players are superstitious and it turns out that many fans are too. They might wear the same shirt to each game or go through a special routine to make sure that they do not bring any bad luck to their team. Baseball and its superstitions are the focus of this mystery. The Sluggers have not been a winning team for more than 100 years 107 to be more precise, but they still have loyal fans. One of them-young Danny Gurkin loves the team and has plenty of ways that he shows his support. He always eats two hot dogs with everything before the first pitch, makes sure the windows are closed and other such superstitious actions. He and his two friends along with a strange cast of characters (one of whom is a 126 year-old man) manage to save the mansion of the Slugger's founder who was a bubblegum millionaire. That sticky stuff is also an essential element in this story where the reader must suspend believe and just enjoy a tall tale with a baseball focus. You will root for Danny and perhaps the Sluggers who finally have a chance to turn their century old loosing streak around. 2006, Random House, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 978-0-375-83348-9 ISBN: 0-375-83348-X ISBN: 0-375-93348-4 ISBN: 0-375-83349-8 To view last year's baseball feature, click here. To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here. Updated 4/01/2006