My Baseball Book by Gail Gibbons, Gail Gibbons (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Baseball is fun - let's play!

Find all the basics in this lively guide.

• The markings on a baseball diamond
• What baseball players wear
• The positions, from catcher to left fielder
• The excitement of the pitch
• The thrill of hitting a home run

All these and more are included, with a useful glossary at the end.

Children's Literature

Gail Gibbons has written numerous nonfiction books for kids. This little square book introduces the basics about baseball. She begins with the equipment, a layout of the playing area and the number of players on a team. The basic principles of the game and the positions are described and illustrated. Kids are walked through several innings to help them understand what the players do and how one scores points. It is simple and clear and very helpful for kids in the preschool and early elementary grades. There is a glossary and boys and girls are equally involved in playing the game. It could also be used by adults and older kids who may not want to reveal their ignorance about this great American pastime. A companion book is entitled My Soccer Book. 2000, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $5.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-In picture-book format, Gibbons provides the basic facts about two popular sports. Using short, clear sentences, she defines terms, explains the rules, and describes scoring. One line in each book mentions the equipment necessary for each game, but the information is well augmented by clearly labeled, colorful drawings showing additional gear, such as shin guards for soccer players or protective covering for the baseball catcher. Both books contain diagrams of the game fields. However, the words selected for the brief glossaries seem arbitrary; for example, "cleat" is defined in Soccer, but not in Baseball. These informative books will be enjoyed by new players or spectators of older siblings' events.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Kirkus Reviews

This small, square picture book introduction to our national pastime is accurate but unexciting. Brief information about equipment, clothing, positions, and basic play is conveyed through short, declarative sentences, illustrations, and a concluding 1-page glossary. Gibbons focuses on children at play in an open field and emphasizes having fun whether you're a player or spectator. Her recognizable cartoon illustrations in full color feature both girls and boys, some shaded to represent African-Americans. This complements Margaret Blackstone's livelier book, This is Baseball, which has a briefer text and follows an adult game played at a stadium. Though flatly told, it would probably be perfect for reading to a young child who is about to attend a baseball game for the first time. A companion volume is My Soccer Book. (Nonfiction. 3-7)

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