Playing Right Field by Welch, Willy (April 1, 1995) Library Binding

by Willy Welch

A popular springtime song follows a young ballplayer's passage from slump to triumph, and is accompanied by illustrations by the Caldecott-winning illustrator of From Sea to Shining Sea.

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Childrens

Unknown Binding

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read for any baseball loving child.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary: This book is about a little boy who would play baseball on Saturday during the summers. Although he loves the sport, he often does not like to play with the other kids. He is often chose last and was placed in right field. In the world of baseball, right field is not the best position. The boy explains the boring, slow paced life of a baseball player in right field. However, he does not realize how important the postion really is. By the end of the book, the boy finds a way to love his position and the importance that comes with it.

Evaluation: The book has a very nice ending, and I found myself feelin bad for the boy. However, the book was not a very interesting read, nor are the illustrations very engaging. I was interested in how the story went and how it could possibly end.

Teaching Idea: I don't believe that I could use this book for a lesson. I could use it to differentiate with a specific student who finds interest in baseball. I could use it to show them how to make inferences or for them to read leisurely during down time or silent sustained reading.

[Mitch Cowger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing Right Field is a classic book about the story of the guy that gets picked last in the little kids pick up game. He feels bad and wonders why he always has to play right field. Right field is the spot that gets the least amount of action and he dreams about the day that he might get a chance to catch a ball. At the end of the book at the end of the game he gets a ball and makes a great catch and saves the day. He is the hero and now he understands that even if he is not the best, he still can be the hero and have fun doing it. It was pretty slow but the book had a good message and good illustrations.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for all the underdog kids out there who wish they were sports stars. A boy spends most of the baseball game watching weeds grow in right field, until a ball unexpectedly comes his way. The text of this book is also a song recorded by Peter, Paul, & Mary. I read the book because I knew the song, but it was still an enjoyable read. I especially love the bright green shade used for the grass in the illustrations.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre and overdone. This time the "guy who gets picked last" comes to us in a baseball themed story. Even the illustrations were highly simplistic. Just nothing stood out about this story...nothing!

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be great for a baseball story time.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really cute. It took me back to days when I was a kid playing sports and would day dream in the far corner of the field!