The Baseball Fanbook (Sports Illustrated Kids)

Gr 5-8--The author of the acclaimed The Football Fanbook has scored another major hit with this latest addition to the series that is sure to whet the appetite of fans of Major League Baseball (MLB). Whether for browsing or for obtaining information, this title has loads of action photographs in color, easy-to-understand charts and diagrams, and profiles of numerous players. One of the best chapters covers obscure facts. (All Major League baseballs are made by hand in Costa Rica. Also, Hank Aaron received a plaque from the U.S. Post Office in the 1970s for receiving so much mail--one million letters.) Baseball records, skills that baseballers should master and understand, comparisons of current stars with legendary ones, tidbits about all 30 MLB teams, and lingo that fans should know are among the topics covered. VERDICT This attractive guide is an essential purchase for sports collections.--Jeanette Lambert, formerly at Nashville-Davidson County Schools

Gramling offers a nostalgia-filled guide for baseball fans: the pages themselves are designed to look like those of a weathered and dog-eared almanac for devoted collectors of baseball cards, stats, and memorabilia. Chapters focus on topics such as record-breaking baseball players, obscure facts ("baseball's first umpires wore coats with tails and top hats"), and skills to master, which include breaking in a baseball glove, sliding into base, and dressing up a hot dog with toppings. There's a chapter on baseball lingo, one that compares today's players to those from the past, and a section titled "Think like a Manager," which provides an insider's look at running a baseball team. Gramling offers an array of player stats, facts, and practical info, spiced up with humor and a big-hearted affection for the game. Ages 8-up. (Apr.)