People and Baseball in Children's Books

By Julie Douglas, Family Programs Specialist

Mrs. Rappaport clapped her hands for order.  The girls quieted down first, followed reluctantly by the boys.  "That’s better. Participation is welcome, but one at a time. Let's do talk about baseball!"
"Yay!" shouted the class.
"And let's combine it with civics too!"
From In The Year Of The Boar And Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

October means baseball, especially with one of our own Missouri teams in the play-offs.  In Lord's book, Mrs. Rappaport went on to ask her students, "What is it about baseball that is ideally suited to Americans?"  Our national pastime serves as the backdrop for some remarkable children's books that explore themes such as courage, perseverance in the face of adversity, family relationships, civil rights, and equality. 

After the last strike is called (and the Cardinals win the World Series), pick up a couple of these children's books, tag up, and race for your own home plate with some great stories.

The Bat Boy And His Violin

By Gavin Curtis (Simon and Schuster, 1998)

Reginald, a sensitive violinist, is the unlikeliest of baseball heroes.   The son of a National Negro League team manager, Reginald is drafted into service as the team's bat boy.  After a few hilarious mishaps, Reginald's father suggests that he use his time in the dugout practicing his "fiddle."  Reginald obeys, and amazing changes begin to take place for the worst team in the Negro League.  Touching on themes such as acceptance, prejudice, and being true to one’s self, this Coretta Scott King Honor book opens the door to conversations that go far beyond baseball.

In The Year Of The Boar And Jackie Robinson

By Bette Bao Lord (Harper & Row, 1984)

Shirley Temple Wong feels out of place and alone in her new American home.  In her Brooklyn neighborhood, everything about Shirley is out of place, from her broken English to her constant bowing.  Even her first attempts at stickball prove awkward, and she is confused when the other students chant "Hey, hey, you're just great, Jackie Robinson crossed the plate. Hey, hey, you’re a dream, Jackie Robinson's on our team!"

Lord’s poignant story of self-acceptance, friendship, and being an American is a must read.

Casey At The Bat: A Ballad Of The Republic Sung In The Year 1888

By Ernest L. Thayer (Simon and Schuster 2003)

The immortal American ballad, performed thousands of times since its creation in 1888, comes to life in this humorous picture book.  Readers sweat out the last inning of a nail-biter as the team from Mudville bravely struggles to win. Hope prevails as the Mighty Casey steps up to bat. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Babe And I

By David A. Adler,  (Guliver Books, 1999)

A young boy weathers the Depression with a little help from Babe Ruth in a story about self-reliance, pride, and friendship.  Widener’s interesting use of bold colors and nostalgic settings may not accurately portray life in the Great Depression, but does lend a feeling of hopefulness to the story.

Say-Hey And The Babe: Two Mostly True Baseball Stories

By Neil Waldman (Holiday House, 2006)

The world of sports is filled with tall tales and legends. In Say-Hey And The Babe, the author blends two "mostly true" stories about two of baseball's heroes and throws in some interesting sidebars about stickball, the Bambino, and Willie Mays.

Just Like Josh Gibson

By Angela Johnson (Simon and Schuster 2004)

The narrator tells the story of her Grandmama, an empowered little girl who could "do it all, hit, throw, and fly around the bases" just like Josh Gibson. Unfortunately for Grandmama, the time was the 1940s and girls weren't allowed to play organized sports.  But Grandmama eventually gets her turn to face the pitcher (wearing a pink dress), and shows the boys just what she is made of.  Baseball fans and young history buffs will enjoy the biographical information about Josh Gibson at the end of the book.

Let Them Play

By Margot Theis Raven  (Sleeping Bear Press 2005)

Readers are transported back to a segregated America in this account of the 1955 Little League World Series.  The story of 14 young African-American boys who were denied an opportunity to participate in the series because of racism reminds the reader of the struggle for civil rights and equality in the not so distant past.