Becoming Joe DiMaggio

Author/Illustrator: Maria Testa/Scott Hunt
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: 2002
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Gr. 3+
Awards: Maine Lupine Award Winner; ALA Notable Book for Children; Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Book; IRA Children’s Choices Award

Overview: Joseph Paul, named after baseball hero, Joe DiMaggio, intertwines his Italian heritage, family, and baseball in aspects of his life. This novel in verse is an easy, yet thoughtful read, for anyone who knows baseball.

Activity: The poems, told from a first person perspective, seem to beg readers to take pen to paper and try their hand at free-verse writing. Try it. This is a home-run win.

Reviewer’s Name: Deb Marciano

Game Day

Author/Illustrator: Tiki and Ronde Barber/Barry Root
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Publication Date: 2005
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Gr. 3+
Awards: Bank Street Best Books of the Year; IRA/CBC Children's Choices; Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Books of the Year; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award; Junior Library Guild Selection

Overview: Twin brothers, Tiki and Ronde Barber, now both NFL players, retell a story of their childhood. Tiki plays running back and Ronde is Tiki’s blocker. Tiki is always recognized for his incredible number of touchdowns, while Ronde is never given credit for the blocks that allow Tiki to score. The story emphasizes the importance of teamwork.

Activity: Good book to use at the beginning of the year. Read book to students and note how important it is to work together in order to keep the classroom running efficiently. Also point out how it can hurt the dynamic of the entire “team” if one person is not an active participant.

Reviewer’s Name: Mandi Kingeter

The Longest Season

Author: Cal Ripken, Jr.
Illustrator: Ron Mazellan
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: April 5, 2007
Genre: Non-Fiction
Audience: Gr. K-3

Overview: The Longest Season tells the story of the Baltimore Orioles 1988 season. The Orioles had won the 1983 World Series and everyone thought they would continue to do well, but the season starts out with a 21 game losing streak. Cal Ripken, Jr. continued to love his team and worked his hardest, even during the losing streak. Finally, the Orioles won a game and ended the losing streak with perseverance and teamwork for a season to remember.

Activity: Start a game of baseball using a soft baseball and bat, followed by a talk about how it might feel to lose so many games and finally win.

Reviewer’s Name: Becky Broyles

For the Love of the Red Sox: An A-to-Z Primer for Red Sox Fans of All Ages

Author/Illustrator: Frederick. C. Klein
Publisher: Chicago: Triumph Books
Publication Date: 2004
Genre: Sports – Picture Book – Alphabet Book
Audience: Gr. K-5

Overview: Another great example of an alphabet book that not just for emergent readers, this picture book lists some of Beantown’s favorite major players in the team’s history. Written in rhyme, followed by a paragraph or so of biographical information, this is a homerun for baseball fans.

Activity: Love or hate the Red Sox, this book provides an imaginative outline for writing one’s own sports team ABC. What category will writers choose? Can be done individually, as small groups around a favorite team, or sports in general.

Reviewer’s Name: Deb Marciano

Casey at the Bat

Author: Ernest L. Thayer
Illustrator: Christopher Bing
Publisher: Handprint
Publication Date: October 1, 2000
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Gr. 3+

Overview: The poem, "Casey at the Bat" is drawn out across this Caldecott Honor book. The illustrations are made to look like an old newspaper is covering the story of Casey and this famous basebell story. Some of the words in the poem are pretty advanced, but this is because the poem is from so long ago.

Activity: Get students to find a favorite poem of theirs and have them illustrate it in newspaper form.

Reviewer’s Name: Emily Adams