Happy Opening Day, baseball fans!!!
If I haven’t mentioned it before, I am a huge baseball fan. (If you care, the Arizona Diamondbacks are my team. Go Dbacks!!) In celebration of Opening Day, I thought I would feature a few baseball books (YA and MG). The only one of these I’ve read is In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson which I remember loving when I read it in 4th or 5th grade. The others I chose because they represent a bit of diversity in main characters and I think they would interest those who aren’t that big into baseball.
For a pretty complete listing of adult and children’s baseball books check out this index put together by a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington.
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord – This is about a Chinese girl who immigrates to the United States and learns English while listening to Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio.
Heat by Mike Lupica – This is about an orphaned and undocumented Cuban refugee with a talent for pitching.
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane – This is about a girl who goes out for the baseball team in the wake of her father’s death.
The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi – A minor league sensation struggles with autism as he tries to make his way in the world of baseball
Are you a baseball fan? Have you read any baseball books? Would you?
Don't Take My Books Away 
Cute! One of my guy friends told me today was opening day and my response was just “Oh… okay.” (clearly I’m not a baseball fan)
Although our local minor league team does have Thirsty Thursday (i.e. $1 beer night) which should be starting up soon… and I do love that! Wonder how people would look at me if I brought any of these books to the game? 🙂
Haha, if you brought a book to a baseball game, you’d probably not be alone. Baseball is sort of a slow game and I often read while I watch it on TV. Though I’d never bring a book to Thirsty Thursday!
Fun post! I do enjoy a baseball game now and then but don’t think I’ve read any baseball books at all. It seems like there have been more books about football recently, like Catching Jordan. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson looks awesome though.
Thanks for sharing these books and reminding me it’s opening day 🙂
In The Year of the Boar was really great, if you’re looking to try a baseball book. I can’t believe I haven’t read more baseball books myself, I plan on working on that one of these days!
What a cute post idea! I’ve heard great things about Year of the Boar, but have never read it. I’d also add The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott to this list 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion! I will check it out!