5 Baseball Themed Books for Young Fans and Readers

Gi Hallmark | The Children’s Book Review | April 21, 2014

Few events punctuate spring’s arrival better than the start of baseball season. Opening day ushers in revived hope of a championship pennant win and nostalgia for the sensory experiences that come with taking in a game at the stadium, field, or even at home. Sports are a great way to engage young readers who are beginning to develop strong topic-related interests in reading material. Among scores of spring themed picture books, families with young fans can celebrate the season with this diverse selection of 5 baseball inspired books.

Baseball Opposites: Major League Baseball: First Base Books

By Christopher Jordan

This Major League Baseball licensed book cleverly illustrates an array of familiar opposites that are visible in the world of baseball.  Children and parents alike will be entertained as they turn the pages of this book to discover bright and colorful photographs of their favorite MLB players and stadiums. Each bi-fold reveals opposites, including safe/out, on base/off base, inside the baseline/outside the baseline, and sitting players/standing umpires. Baseball Opposites is a great book to help young readers connect to their favorite teams while learning the concept of opposites.

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Random House of Canada |February 11, 2014 | ISBN 978-1-77049-518-0

Baseball Animals: Major League Baseball: First Base Books

By Christopher Jordan

Ever wonder why the Baltimore Orioles chose the oriole when naming their club? Major League Baseball fans can feed their curiosity with this trivia book about the various animals unique to the world of professional baseball.  Baseball Animals includes bright, captivating photographs of Major League Baseball teams and includes facts about each animal as well as the origin of the club names.  Baseball Animals is entertaining for both adults and children and especially great in satisfying those fans and readers who love to recite facts and trivia.

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Random House of Canada |February 11, 2014 | ISBN 978-1-77049-474-9

Martha Speaks Play Ball (A Spanish Bilingual Reader)

By Susan Meddaugh

This early reader brings together baseball and characters from the popular PBS series, Martha Speaks. Follow Truman as he tackles his anxiety about not being able to catch a ball. Through positive encouragement from his pals, Truman triumphs and is able to catch the ball in the big game.  Play Ball is a well-rounded read, combining familiar characters, baseball, and examples of positive peer pressure.

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |April 1, 2014 | ISBN 978-0-544-22054-6

Curious George Home Run (A Spanish Bilingual Reader)

Created by H.A. Rey, Adapted by Erica Zappy, Translated by is Carlos E. Calvo

George is always eager to help but even with his good intentions, he finds a little trouble. In Curious George Home Run, the scorekeeper for the baseball game is out sick and George is asked to fill in.  Readers will be endeared by George’s mix-up of numbers as he tries to keep score and help out at the snack stand. Beginning softball and baseball fans will also enjoy reading learning about the rules of the game included at the end of the story.

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |April 3, 2012 | ISBN 978-0-547-69114-5

Inspiring Stories of Sportsmanship

By Brad Herzog

Sports can be a powerful tool in encouraging and inspiring positive character development. Even at the earliest of ages, children can learn about sportsmanship, positivity, and perseverance. Inspiring Stories of Sportsmanship provides real life examples of these virtues from a variety of sports and events, both recent and historical, through 20 short stories. Readers will be inspired to make positive choices on and off the field through these stories which includes the group of high school students who selflessly abdicated their track medals after an incorrect disqualification and the softball team players who helped an injured opponent complete a home run walk around the bases. Though the text of this book dictates the reading range for this book is for middle readers, it is an appropriate and beneficial read aloud for the younger group as well.

Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing |April 1, 2014 | ISBN 978-1-57542-455-2