If You Like... Baseball

To celebrate Major League Baseball's opening day, here are some books to read about the American pastime.

Written by Lisa Bowes

Illustrated by James Hearne

British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers, 2023. Picture Book.

Lucy is learning to play catch with her dad when Coach Al invites her to play with his team instead. She learns the basics of baseball, like hitting and fielding, then joins in on the first practice. At first, Lucy is scared that she is going to get hit by a pitch and is afraid to be up to bat. But, eventually Lucy learns to love the game. This book would be a great resource to prepare kids for their first practice and will be relatable to anyone who's tried a new sport.

Hoggy at Bat

By Ethan Long

New York: Holiday House, 2023. Easy Reader.

Hoggy knows he will be good at baseball. He doesn't have any basis for that knowledge, but he firmly believes it anyway. So when he gets two strikes during his first at bat, he doesn't know how to respond to the pressure of wanting to hit a home run with one ball left. This easy reader, which uses few words per page in its comic format, will give encouragement to any child who has ever been afraid to strike out.

My First Book of Baseball

By Beth Bulger

Chicago, IL: Triumph Books LLC, 2023. Easy Informational.

If you are looking for a great book with simple explanations for someone who doesn't have any background knowledge of baseball, this is a great choice! It explains the rules of the game, the format of baseball, and terms you'll need to know. It also has pictures of real MLB players interspersed throughout, so even kids who know baseball will enjoy trying to spot their favorites!

Warrior on the Mound

By Sandra W. Headen

New York: Holiday House, 2024. Fiction.

In 1939 North Carolina, Cato and his teammates want nothing more than to play on the new field that was just erected in his city. Unfortunately, it's a whites-only field. When they sneak onto the field anyway and get caught, they propose that their team compete with the white team to see who the winner would be in a series of head-to-head battles. As the forthcoming game spurs episodes of racial violence, Cato's black community must rally around each other to stay safe. Mixing in historical context with the love of the game, this book is a great choice for those who want to learn more about the history of baseball.

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