First, I want to point out that this is not just another children's book... Let me share the back cover:
It's more than just baseball... Nick's Very First Day of Baseball, the first of a planned series for children ages three to seven, teaches children about baseball using real coaching techniques. In this interactive storybook, kids will find hidden baseballs in the pictures, answer trivia questions, and there's even a page for autographs from their favorite players.
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Included is the opportunity to book an author visit for libraries, school classes, etc. Do check out the Hometown All Stars website!
Nick's Very First Day of Baseball
By Kevin Christofora
Illustrated by Dale Tangeman
While I was visiting the site, I got to meet the All Stars! This hard-back full-color book has life-like art work and is jam-packed with delightful details that keep readers on each page for much longer than the norm. I was especially pleased to see that all kids from the neighborhood had the chance to apply for the team! If you, too, visit their site, you'll find individual pictures of the team members along with a brief personal sketch of each member, including the positions they play on the team. For older children, I believe this is a great addition. By allowing each child to become familiar, readers will obviously enjoy reading the book even more...
I was pleasantly surprised that this first book had nothing to do with playing a game. Rather, it begins right at the beginning of exactly what will happen if a child decides to join a team. This includes getting to know each of the members, getting uniforms, and hats!
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| You use a glove to catch the balls. ~~~ |
Nick came with a new glove his father had bought for him as a new member of the team. Billy Ball tells readers what a glove is for...
Nick was so excited about the first meeting that it was all he could think of--he was seeing balls, bats, and gloves in his dreams!
So the first day arrived, some like Nick carried gloves--but what happened instead was that all of the players started exercising! You know, stretching fun like jumping jacks and helicopter and touch-our-toes. Gee, I've been doing these all my life, but this book shows exactly how to do them for those who have not yet learned that before any major exercise activities, like playing baseball, it is important to do stretching exercises first!
And then some discussion on baseball cards, but readers will have to find out more...me I picked out players whose names I knew...LOL...But you get the idea!At a time when too many children are spending their time on electronic devices, rather than in physical activity, I commend the author in initiating such a fine series to emphasize becoming involved with outdoor ball and all it entails...Who knows, one of your children may become so involved that they'll make it a career choice in the future!
I was also impressed with the quality of the coach. It is obvious he is meant to be a role model of what we should look for and strive to have as one who leads any team activities. The general feelings is enthusiasm, caring, fun, but disciplined work to learn and play with peers, adults, and others children they've never met before. Kudos for an all-round job well done! This just might be a must-read for some of you--your children will help you by showing their interests in sports! Take advantage of that interest and support it through an excellent step-by-step explanation about what team sports really means.GABixlerReviews
Written for children ages three to five, Kevin wrote The Hometown All Stars as a “bedtime story” to get kids interested in the national pastime again. His goal in writing this book was to get kids out of the house and onto the field – “ less screen, more green.” He believes in the valuable lessons that children learn from playing the game: teamwork, discipline, strategy, and thinking before they act. In addition, he wants to bring back the joy of being outdoors and playing, that kids in recent years have lost.
Art and baseball have been Dale’s two loves. One of his fondest memories of baseball was being selected to play in his little league all-star game as short stop. A very large kid came up to bat and hit a rocket right at his head. The crowd gasped, but he managed to catch the ball squarely in his glove to save the game. It was a very proud moment that he will never forget. In helping to create these books Dale hopes his grandchildren will take an interest in baseball and create memories as lasting as his. (and similar to that shared below!)
Watch for Magic Bat Day Coming Next!
