Baseball Is...

Gr 2-5--This picture-book tribute salutes our national pastime, whose "stories are stitched through our nation's history." Borden enumerates the elements of the game, including ballparks and fans, plays and players, in crisp verses paired with Colon's textured and lively drawings: "Baseball is the fastball, the curveball, the knuckleball, the slider, the crack of the bat...." A fold-out page gives special attention to Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. The author also mentions the "long ago" Negro leagues and the women's league; and notes baseball's ability to bring diverse people together. Emphasis is placed on patriotic elements, such as the playing of the national anthem and the American flag flying above the stands "like a familiar friend." Throughout, Colon's expressive art, rendered in colored pencil and watercolors, enlivens the sometimes static, message-laden narrative. This is a beautiful, well-crafted, and oversize text that will be welcomed and embraced by fans of the game.--Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

More than a decade after America Is..., Borden returns with a rosy tribute to the national pastime, this time accompanied by Colon, whose pencil illustrations virtually glow with sunset golds and the lime greens of the outfield. Most of Borden's verse is dedicated to capturing the sounds, smells, and emotions of the game itself ("Baseball is the scamper of the bat boy/ and the distant shout in the stands: / 'Peanuts!'/ 'Popcorn!' "). But the game's history is also felt, both in inset images that, for instance, show the technology used by announcers past and present, and in detours that honor presidential connections to the game, a trio of players (Ruth, Robinson, and Clemente), and "the minor leagues/ and Little League, / the talented and long ago Negro Leagues, / the women's league." It's a warm and passionate ode to the game, whether it's being played in stadiums or backyards. Ages 7-10. Illustrator's agent: Morgan Gaynin Inc. (Feb.)