The Baseball Counting Book

Shaw's acrylic paintings capture the excitement of a good game played by teams made up of both boys and girls.
 

PreS-Gr 3-Numbers from 0 to 20 are featured in this rhyming picture book. Some of them fit naturally into baseball terminology, such as 3 strikes, 2 teams, and 9 positions. Others, like 12 pieces of gear and 19 ice-cream cones, are more arbitrary, but still tie in to the theme. Kids without basic familiarity with the sport won't fully understand why "5" is a "full count" or why there are 6 infielders. The double-page spread for "20" helps, though, by showing baseball cards, several of which offer glossary-type information about the sport. A game seems to progress along with the counting, starting with a 0 to 0 score and ending with a game-winning grand slam. Unfortunately, many of the rhyming couplets suffer from awkward rhythms: "Eleven bats to choose from-/find one that feels right./Keep your eye on the ball,/and hit with all your might." Acrylic illustrations depict the action from a variety of perspectives, including a double-page, wide-angle view of the field (showing the 9 positions) and a close-up look at 10 fingers gripping the bat. Team members include both boys and girls from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Figures and faces are a bit stiff in some cases, but the determination of the young players and some of the fun of the game do come through. Though not particularly exciting, this is a pleasant enough introduction to a popular sport.-Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR

 The book is full of counting opportunities and is a springboard for many other learning experiences. I would recommend this book for use at many different levels.
—Teaching Children Mathematics