Ah, Opening Day. The day everything seems possible for a baseball fan. It’s the day you can still feel hope that “this year will be our year!” and, for me at least, it is the official start of spring. The fields are finally green (or at least getting there), the days are longer, and the sun is warmer. Baseball may be the sport of hot summer nights, but I always associate it with new beginnings and fresh starts.
For a long-suffering New York Mets fan like me, this is probably because spring has been the best part of my team’s season for the last few years (we won’t talk about 2000 or 2006). You start reading up on stats, finding out about that new player you completely missed during the preseason lead-up, and carefully watching the standings. All of it might be a complete waste of time, except what if it’s not? What if this year really is our year?
All I have to say is the Mets won their home opener on Monday against the Padres 11-2. How can you not believe?
For your little baseball fans wrapped up in the drama of the season, here are a few fantastic reads that won’t fail to pull them away from their stat sheets.
ABCs of Baseball by Peter Golenbock, illustrated by Dan Andreasen
This new twist on learning the alphabet is sure to be a home run! Learn about the ins and outs, the history, and the present of the old ball game from A to Z.
SeeSaw April
DK Eyewitness Books: Baseball by James Buckley
All you sports trivia fans out there, this book is for you! Vivid photographs and detailed facts about this amazing pastime will help turn young fans into baseball aficionados.
Lucky April
Jackie’s Nine: Jackie Robinson’s Values to Live By by Sharon Robinson
Courage, determination, commitment, persistence, integrity, justice, teamwork, citizenship, and excellence. These are the nine values that Robinson followed to achieve his goals and break racial and social barriers. Through this inspiring, brilliant anthology you’ll discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about #42, Jackie Robinson.
Storia eBook
Erin Hotchkiss is a merchandising manager for Storia, Scholastic’s eReading app. When she was little, she refused to play softball when she was told she couldn’t play on the boys’ baseball team.
