Goodnight Baseball (Sports Illustrated Kids Bedtime Books)

Created in partnership with Sports Illustrated Kids, this uneven tribute to baseball chronicles a father-son outing to a stadium on game day. At times, Dahl's singsong couplets suggest that the boy is narrating ("We eat popcorn and hot dogs and hold drinks in our laps.../ with the names of our favorite teams bright on our caps"), but at other moments, the verse seems to view events from an outside perspective: "Look! The ball lands in one lucky fan's mitt!" writes Dahl (the Hello Genius books), as the same boy catches one batter's home run. The pace of the story drops off in the second half, as it moves into bedtime mode: "Good-night, diamond. Goodnight grass./ Goodnight, home plate where each runner ran past." Forshay's (The Really Groovy Story of the Tortoise and the Hare) energized illustrations are a high point, handily conveying the excitement of a nighttime game, while smoothly bringing the mood down as the boy falls sleep on the drive back home. A minor-league addition to the crowded shelf of baseball-themed picture books. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)

K-Gr 2--A father and son go to a stadium to watch a baseball game between the Stars and the Rockets. When it is over, they return home with full stomachs and happy memories, but not before wishing everyone and everything, including the players and home plate, a good night. The familiar aspects of the event are all here and illustrated. The seats are occupied by people of all ages and various ethnicities. They eat hot dogs, popcorn, and pretzels while sipping on sodas. Bases are stolen, baseballs are caught (by the players and the fans) and hit, and the crowd cheers. After an action-packed game described in rhyming text, the pace of the story slows down. As the sun sets, the stadium lights go on. The boy's energy begins to fade after he has posed with the mascot and met the players. His father carries him to the car and by the time they are home, the youngster is almost asleep. The wording at the ending of this picture book is reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon. A fun, comforting bedtime story for sports fans.--Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada