#SOL17: Batter Up - More than a Handful of Baseball Books

In October, 2015 when Rob had come home from the hospital and was healing from a staph infection, radiation treatments and chemo, he and I watched the Mets in the playoffs. We exchanged texts with my brother Brendan as we watched. It was a lot of fun. Prior to that it had been years since I watched baseball. I could still recall in the early 1970s, driving with my dad in his trusty VW bug and listening to AM radio coverage of the Mets. I remember my dad listening as Nolan Ryan pitched his way to a no hitter and recall my dad saying, Mary, we have a sure winner here. I'm not sure if the joy I felt then had something to do with listening to a game,  being with just my dad, or perhaps both--but I recall the time fondly.  

With spring upon us and baseball warming up, I hope the list inspires you to "pitch a few books" to others and to read to children.


1. Picture Books

1. Abbott, Bud & Lou Costello. (2013). Who's On First? Illustrated by John Martz. Quirk Books: Philadelphia, PA: 
2. Adler, David A. (2007). Campy: The Story of Roy Campanella. Illustrated by Gordon James. New York: Viking Juvenile.
3. Adler, David A.  (2001). Lou Gehrig &  I. Illustrated by Terry Widener. New York: Sandpiper.
4. Bildner, Phil. (2011). Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and the Record-Setting Summer of 1941. Illustrated by S.D. Schindler. New York:  Putnam Juvenile.
5. Bildner, Phil. (2006). Shoeless Joe & Betsy Black. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. New York:  Simon & Schuster.
6. Borden, Louise. (2014). Baseball Is... Illustrated by Raúl Colón. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
7. Bowen, Fred. (2010). No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 Season. Illustrated by Chuck Pyle. New York: Dutton Juvenile.
8. Burleigh, Robert. (2007). Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds. Illustrated by Mike Wimmer. New York: Sandpiper.
9. Burleigh, Robert. (2003). Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth. Illustrated by Mike Wimmer. New York: Sandpiper.
10. Churin, Nancy. (2016). The William Hoy Story. Illustrated by Jez Tuya. New York: Albert Whitman & Company.
11. Cline-Ransome, Lisa. (2003). Satchel Paige. Illustrated by James E.Ransome. New York: Aladdin.
12. Corey, Shana. (2006). Players in Pigtails. Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. New York: Scholastic.
13. Curtis, Gavin. (2001). The Bat Boy and His Violin. Illustrated by E.B Lewis. New York: Aladdin.
14. Gilles, Almira Astudillo. (2001). Willie Wins. Illustrated by Carl Angel. New York: Lee & Low.
15. Golenbock, Peter. (2012). ABCs of Baseball. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. New York: Dial Books. 
16. Golenbock, Peter. (2005). Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way. Illustrated by Don Lee. New York: Lee & Low.
17. Golenbock, Peter. (1992). Teammates. Illustrated by Paul Bacon. New York: Sandpiper.
18. Green, Michelle Y. (2004). A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York: Puffin Books.
19. Hopkinson, Deborah. (2006). Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings. Illustrated by Terry Widener. New York: Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books.
20. Hubbard, Crystal. (2005). Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream. Illustrated by Randy Duburke. New York: Lee & Low.
21. Isadora, Rachel. (2005).  Luke Goes to Bat. New York: Putnam Juvenile.
22. Johnson, Angela. (2007). Just Like Josh Gibson. Illustrated by Beth Peck. New York: Simon & Schuster.
23. Kusugak, Michael (Inuit). (2017). Baseball Bats for Christmas. Illustrated by Vladana Langer Krykorka. Toronto, Ontario: Annick Press.
24. Lorbiecki, Marybeth. (2006). Jackie's Bat. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. New York: Simon & Schuster.
25. Mandel, Peter. (2000.) Say Hey! Illustrated by Don Tate. New York: Hyperion.
26. Michelson, Richard. (2006). Across the Alley. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. New York: Harcourt.
27. Michelson, Richard. (2011). Lipman Pike: America’s First Home Run King. Illustrated by Zachary Pullen. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.
28. Mochizuki, Ken. (1995). Baseball Saved Us. Illustrated by Don Lee. New York:  Lee & Low.
29. Moss, Marissa. (2016). Barbed Wire Baseball: How One Man Brought Hope to the Japanese Internment Camps of WWII.  New York: Harry N. Abrams.
30. Moss, Marissa. (2004). Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. New York: Simon & Schuster.
31. Nash, Ogden. (2011). Lineup for Yesterday. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
32. Negron, Ray. (2006). The Boy of Steel: Baseball Dream Come True. Illustrated by Laura Seeley. New York: Harper Collins.
33. Nelson, Kadir. (2008). We Are The Ship: The Story Of Negro League Baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun.
34. Okimoto, Jean Davies. (2002). Dear Ichiro. Illustrated by Doug Keith. Seattle, WA: Sasquatch Books.
35. Posada, Jorge. (2010). Play Ball! Illustrated by Raul Colon. New York: Paula Wiseman Books.
36. Rappaport, Doreen. (2000). Dirt on Their Skirts: The Story of the Young Women Who Won the World Championship. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. New York: Dial.
37. Robinson, Sharon. (2009). Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York: Scholastic Press.
38. Shore, Diane Z. & Jessica Alexander. (2011). This is the Game. Illustrated by Owen Smith. New York: HarperCollins.
39. Tavares, Matt. (2016).  Becoming Babe Ruth. Sommerville, MA: Candlewick.
40. Tavares, Matt. 2015). Growing Up Pedro: How the Martinez Brothers Made It from the Dominican Republic All the Way to the Major Leagues.  Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
41. Tavares, Matt. (2011). Mudball. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
42. Tavares, Matt. (2009). Oliver's Game. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
43. Tavares, Matt. (2000/2012).  Zachary's Ball. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
44. Uhlberg, Myron. 2005. Dad, Jackie, And Me. Illustrated by Colin Bootman. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.
45. Vernick, Audrey. (2016). The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton. Illustrated by Steve Salerno. New York: Clarion.
46. Vernick, Audrey. (2012). Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team. Illustrated by Steve Salerno. New York: Clarion.
47. Vernick, Audrey. (2010). She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story. Illustrated by Don Tate. New York: Collins.
48. Winter, Jonah. (2017). Mickey Mantel: The Commerce Comet. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. New York: Schwartz & Wade.
49. Winter, Jonah. (2016). You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! Illustrated by Andre Carriho. New York: Schwartz & Wade.
50. Winter, Jonah. (2014). Joltin' Joe DiMaggio. Illustrated by James Ransome. New York: Atheneum.
51. Winter, Jonah. (2008). Roberto Clemente: The Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Illustrated by Raul Colon. New York: Atheneum.
52. Wise, Bill. (2012). Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy. Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. New York: : Lee & Low.
53. Wise, Bill. (2009). Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. New York: Lee & Low.
54. Yolen, Jane. (2010). All Star! Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever. Illustrated by Jim Burke. New York: Philomel.

Poetry

1. Edelson, Noah. (2005). Cooperstown Dreams: Poems about Baseball and Other Things That Make a Difference. Illustrated by Hannah Edelson. Sherman Oaks, CA: Mighty Oak Media.
2. Fehler, Gene. (2009). Change-Up: Baseball Poems. Illustrated by Donald Wu. New York: Clarion.
3. Florian, Doug. (2012). Poem Runs: Baseball Poems and Paintings. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
4. Fried, Gabriel. (2014). Heart of the Order: Baseball Poems. New York: Persea.
5. Graves, Donald. (1996). Baseball, Snakes and Summer Squash: Poems about Growing Up. Illustrated by Paul Birling. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press.
6. Hopkins, Lee Bennett. (1993). Extra Innings: Baseball Poems. Illustrated by Scott Medlock. New York: Harcourt.
7. Janeczko, Paul B. (1998). That Sweet Diamond Baseball Poems. Illustrated by Carole Katchen. New York: Atheneum.
8. Maddax, Marjorie. (2009). Rules of the Game: Baseball Poems. Illustrated by John Sandford. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
9. Morrison, Lillian. (1992). At the Crack of the Bat: Baseball Poems. Illustrated by Steve Cieslawski. New York: Hyperion.
10. Prelutsky, Jack. (2007). Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More.  Illustrated by Chris Raschka. New York: Knopf.
11. Raczka, Rob. (2010). GUYKU: Haiku for Boys. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (includes a haiku about baseball cards)
12. Rodriguez, Alex. (2012). Out of the Ballpark. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. New York: HarperCollins. 
13. Smith Jr., Charles R. (2012). Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
14. Smith, Charles. (2004). Diamond Life: Baseball Sights, Sounds, and Swings. New York: Orchard.
15. Thayer, Ernest. (2002). Casey At the Bat. Illustrated by Leroy Neiman. Introduction by Joe Torre. New York: Ecco.
16.  Thayer, Ernest. (2000). Casey at the Bat: A Ballad at the Republic in the Year 1888. Illustrated by Christopher Bing. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.

Informational, Graphic Novel, Memoir, and Novel

1. Bretón, Marcos. (2003). Home Is Everything: The Latino Baseball Story: From the Barrio to the Major Leagues. Photographs by Jose Luis Villegas. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.
2. Chronicle Books Staff. (2009). B Is for Baseball: Running the Bases from A to Z. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
3. Cieradkowski, Gary. (2015). The League of Outsider Baseball: An Illustrated History of Baseball’s Forgotten Heroes.  Touchstone.
4. Charlton, James & Sally Cook. (2014). How to Speak Baseball: An Illustrated Guide to Ballpark Banter. llustrated by Ross MacDonald. New York: Margaret K. McElderry.
5. Cook, Sally and James Charlton. (2007). Hey Batta Batta Swing! The Wild Old Days of Baseball. Illustrated by Ross MacDonald. New York: Margaret K. McElderry.
6. Curlee, Lynn. (2004). Ball Park: The Story of America's Baseball Fields. New York: Atheneum.
7. Fletcher, Ralph. "Baseball" in Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. New York: Square Fish.
8. Herzog, Brad. (2004). H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.
9. Jorgensen, Katrina. (2016). Ballpark Eats Recipes Inspired by America’s Baseball Stadiums (Sports Illustrated Kids). Mantako, MN: Capstone Young Readers.
10. Robinson, Sharon. (2016). The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship Between a Boy and a Baseball Legend. New York: Scholastic Press.
11. Robinson, Sharon. (2004). Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America. New York: Scholastic.
12. Santiago, Wilfred. (2014). 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics.   
13. Winter, Jonah. (2013). Beisbol: Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends. New York: Lee & Low Books.
14. Winter, Jonah. (1999). Fair Ball!: 14 Great Stars from Baseball's Negro Leagues. New York: Scholastic.
15. Wong, Steven. (2007). Baseball Treasures. Illustrated by Susan Einstein. New York: HarperCollins.

Baseball Picture Books

f

from Barbed Wire Fences

A few picture books about men and women who played baseball.

Adler, David A. (2007). Satchel Paige: Don’t Look Back. Illustrated by Terry Widener. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

Adler, David A. (2003). Mama Played Baseball. Illustrated by Chris O’Leary. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

Burleigh, Robert. (2007). Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds. Illustrated by Mike Wimmer. New York: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. (2003). Satchel Paige. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. New York: Aladdin.

Corey, Shana. (2003). Players in Pigtails. Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. New York: Scholastic.

Curtis, Gavin. (1998). The Bat Boy & His Violin. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Fishman, Cathy Goldberg. (2012). When Jackie and Hank Met. Illustrated by Mark Elliot. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish.

Golebrock, Peter. (2005). Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way. Illustrated by Paul Lee. Orlando, FL: Voyager Books.

Golebrock, Peter. (1992).Teammates. Illustrated by Paul Bacon. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.

Green, Michelle Y.  (2004). A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson Paperback. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York: Puffin.

Hopkinson, Deborah. (2006).  Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings. Illustrated by Terry Widener. New York: Aladdin.

Hubbard, Crystal. (2005). Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream. Illustrated by Randy DuBurck. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Johnson, Angela. (2007). Just Like Josh Gibson. Illustrated by Beth Peck. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Mochizki, Ken. (1995). Baseball Saved Us. Illustrated by Dom Lee. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Moss, Marissa. (2013). Barbed Wire Baseball. Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. New York: Harry N. Abrams.

Moss, Marissa. (2004). Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. New York: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books.

Nelson, Kadir, (2008). We are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball. New York: Jump  at the Sun.

Perdomo, Willie. (2010). Clemente! Illustrated by Bryan Collier. New York: Henry Holt.

Rappaport, Doreen & Lyndall Callan. (2000). Dirt on the Skirts: The Story of the Young Women who Won the World Championship. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. New York: Dial.

Raven, Margot Theis. (2005).Let Them Play. Illustrated by Chris Ellison. Grand Rapids, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

Robinson, Sharon. (2009). Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York: Schoalstic.

Smith Jr., by Charles R. (2012). Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Tavares, Matt. (Feb 14, 2012). Henry Aaron's Dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Vernick, Audrey. (2010). She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story. Illustrated by Don Tate. New York: Balzer + Bray.

Winter, Jonah. (2013). You Never Heard of Willie Mays? Illustrated by Terry Widener. New York: Schwartz & Wade.

Winter, Jonah. (2008). Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Illustrated by Raúl Colón. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Winter, Jonah. (2004). Beisbol: Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends. Illustrated by Bruce Markusen Rodriguez. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Wise, Bill. (2012). Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy. Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Wise, Bill. (2005). Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. New York: Lee & Low Books.