My first book of baseball

For anyone who wants to learn the fundamental rules, vocabulary, and casts of participants involved in the great American pastime, this is a solid introduction. Never condescending, it explains concepts through simple declarative sentences reinforced by full-color action photos of current National League and American League players. The athlete photo cutouts are superimposed against bright primary-colored backgrounds, making it easy to discern what's going on. Brief text excerpts (written in a generously sized font) wind around the illustrations, and important terms (Play ball! Bases loaded Seventh inning stretch) pop off the pages in bright, oversize balloon letters. The content flows through nine innings, integrating explanations of safe, out, hits, walks, runs, signs, bull pen, and so on. Additional insights (and humor) come from player thought bubbles and a running commentary provided by an omnipresent young cartoon character who serves as an unofficial guide. Perfect for sharing before a first trip to a ballpark, this accessible and visually alluring offering will attract aspiring athletes, aptly coach the uninitiated, and entertain already dedicated fans.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2016 Booklist

PreS-Gr 1-Introductory books on baseball for young children are perennial favorites, and this one is a fine addition. Each page features an aspect of a game as it is being played. A small cartoon character of a young boy in the corner provides humorous commentary about the players and the action. The book begins with a brief explanation of teams, players, and innings. With photos of a variety of players representing the various major league teams, the pages are bright, colorful, and inviting. In subsequent pages, readers are taken on a journey through an entire game and learn about batters, pitchers, strike zones, runs, walks, balls, and more. Each important term is presented in large capital letters. There are other good informational books on baseball for this grade range, such as Robin Nelson's Baseball Is Fun and Kyle McClellan's Baseball, which offer necessary reviews of the sport, but the format here is more engaging and certainly more entertaining. There is no glossary, but one is not needed as the definitions are given as part of the narrative. VERDICT While there are other suitable introductory books on baseball for youngsters, readers will find the presentation of information enjoyable. Libraries would do well to add this option to their collections.-Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.