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Baseball Hour
Boys and girls enthusiastically warm up with special exercises and drills. The players throw the ball back and forth, jog, bat, catch, and pitch. Finally, the players divide up into two teams. The coach, as umpire, makes calls as they catch pop flies, run the bases, and slide feet first into home plate. Practice ends with the kids showing that teamwork makes them better players. Powerful, mixed-media illustrations with dramatic, up-close perspectives interpret the rhythmic text and capture the intensity and exuberance of baseball practice.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 7, 2015
This book isn't something that really relates to me. However this is a cute book for baseball lovers. I also like that the team was mixed it wasn't just all boys.
April 25, 2019
I always love a good baseball book. This one focuses on the practice time. I love the black and white illustrations, and my toddler loved the giant "Ball"! A great book without a lot of words, that really lets the pictures tell the stories. I'll definitely be reading this one again!
February 22, 2019
Illustrations were phenomenal. I just wish the story, such as it is, in any way lived up to them.
June 23, 2019
189/365
March 15, 2020
i've always loved baseball ... favorite sport of them all ... my Dad would take me to games and it was so fun. good memories.
March 2, 2022
I love the rhymes and the illustrations are surreal!
August 13, 2024
Cute little rhyming book about baseball. The illustrations are beautiful!
November 29, 2016
For those little baseball lovers in your life, this is very brief but cute. :-)
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 19, 2017
Simple rhymes, the practice theme isn't necessarily appealing to the young audience. Nice photo-heavy artwork.
March 5, 2017
This is one incredibly gorgeous book! The illustrations just blast off the pages! The text is very basic, just one sentence per two pages, so it is good for early readers! And I really like that there are girls in several of the action scenes! But really, the artwork is amazing!
October 7, 2008
Baseball Hour, by Carol Nevius, illustrated by Bill Thomson, published by Marshall Cavendish Children, publication date: 2008.
This is a cute poetry book about the sport of baseball. The entire book is talking about the events that take place in the hour of baseball. The players start off by racing around the outfield and then start stretching for practice. Next, they pick up their gloves to play catch. Then, the batters hit the balls that the coaches pitch and the catchers catch the ball. The book continues by talking about players deciding to keep running from base to base, catching the ball, and hitting the ball past several players. The books ends by talking about the players putting all of their hands and arms in for a team huddle and how it is a team of friends. The book really shows and emphasizes the importance of teamwork to get better and grow as a team.
For my first activity, I will have the students create their own short stories by using the same theme from this book, teamwork. The students will need to share these with the class.
For my second activity, I will have the students draw a line down the middle of their notebook paper and on one side I will have them write down important quotes from the book and on the other side I will have them analyze them. The students will share some of their ideas with the entire class.
This book could really tie to the content area of social studies and the study of the sport of baseball. The students could study where the sport of baseball began and why it is so important today.
This book will lead to the students using their imagination to create their own stories on the theme of teamwork. The book could also spark further reading, research, and writing by having the students research the sport of baseball and where it began.
This is a cute poetry book about the sport of baseball. The entire book is talking about the events that take place in the hour of baseball. The players start off by racing around the outfield and then start stretching for practice. Next, they pick up their gloves to play catch. Then, the batters hit the balls that the coaches pitch and the catchers catch the ball. The book continues by talking about players deciding to keep running from base to base, catching the ball, and hitting the ball past several players. The books ends by talking about the players putting all of their hands and arms in for a team huddle and how it is a team of friends. The book really shows and emphasizes the importance of teamwork to get better and grow as a team.
For my first activity, I will have the students create their own short stories by using the same theme from this book, teamwork. The students will need to share these with the class.
For my second activity, I will have the students draw a line down the middle of their notebook paper and on one side I will have them write down important quotes from the book and on the other side I will have them analyze them. The students will share some of their ideas with the entire class.
This book could really tie to the content area of social studies and the study of the sport of baseball. The students could study where the sport of baseball began and why it is so important today.
This book will lead to the students using their imagination to create their own stories on the theme of teamwork. The book could also spark further reading, research, and writing by having the students research the sport of baseball and where it began.
July 6, 2013
Those with a love of the game will most assuredly appreciate Baseball Hour. This book captures what a day at baseball practice probably looks like for most children in little league. Whether boy or girl interested in the game or those whom already play, either would probably enjoy the tone set. The book at hand could definitely inspire determination and teamwork. I really liked that there is a variety of races and children of both sexes on the team displayed. Too often, I see only baseball and other sports booked geared primarily to boys.
I'll point out that the story inside seems much more like a short poem. It's written very well in a rhyming way and captures everything that would be happening during a practice. Players in the book are seen warming up, catching the ball, running, swinging, throwing, sliding, and working together as a team! I think this book would be great read a loud and would be a perfect book for beginning readers that also love baseball. I even believe children would easily begin to memorize the book after a few reads.
The illustrations in this book are excellently done and almost life like. The colors used are sepia yet with a hint black and white as well as red. The detail is well put such as those of the bases, field, and baseball gear of bats, balls, cleats, and mitts. The illustrator also completely captures the emotions that are most certainly seen by children during practice such as the looks of concentration, excitement, joy, and more!
Baseball Hour makes for a most desirable picture book to add to any collection whether for a child or for an adult.
I'll point out that the story inside seems much more like a short poem. It's written very well in a rhyming way and captures everything that would be happening during a practice. Players in the book are seen warming up, catching the ball, running, swinging, throwing, sliding, and working together as a team! I think this book would be great read a loud and would be a perfect book for beginning readers that also love baseball. I even believe children would easily begin to memorize the book after a few reads.
The illustrations in this book are excellently done and almost life like. The colors used are sepia yet with a hint black and white as well as red. The detail is well put such as those of the bases, field, and baseball gear of bats, balls, cleats, and mitts. The illustrator also completely captures the emotions that are most certainly seen by children during practice such as the looks of concentration, excitement, joy, and more!
Baseball Hour makes for a most desirable picture book to add to any collection whether for a child or for an adult.
June 30, 2013
With rhyming text by middle school language arts teacher Carol Nevius, illustrations by art professor Bill Thomson, Baseball Hour at once presents as a retro-style view of a favorite summer pastime, and affirmation of what's gradually happening in little league and youth teams across the country that now include girl players. Only endpapers, title text, and stitching on the baseballs that appear throughout the hard-bound book are red; everything else is photographic-tinged sepias, black and light olive (though admittedly, I don't know how the illustrator would describe those colors.)
The simple rhymed narrative courses through a warmup and practice session, concluding in a declaration of how teamwork makes it all possible. Bill Thomson's detailed drawings are extraordinary; angles, zoom-ins, and zoom-outs of practice field and players views truly are inspired and masterful.
Baseball Hour is basic coffee-table book size, and only 32 pages, so you can read it quickly to your kid, or let them read it themselves; I'm sure an interested preschooler could memorize it after a couple of hearings. This book also would be a wonderful gift for any adult who loves baseball! I'll be excited to check out the other books Nevius and Thomson have crafted together.
The simple rhymed narrative courses through a warmup and practice session, concluding in a declaration of how teamwork makes it all possible. Bill Thomson's detailed drawings are extraordinary; angles, zoom-ins, and zoom-outs of practice field and players views truly are inspired and masterful.
Baseball Hour is basic coffee-table book size, and only 32 pages, so you can read it quickly to your kid, or let them read it themselves; I'm sure an interested preschooler could memorize it after a couple of hearings. This book also would be a wonderful gift for any adult who loves baseball! I'll be excited to check out the other books Nevius and Thomson have crafted together.
January 25, 2013
This book came to our attention in the central library when a staff member suggested it should be shelved as a picture book. After consulting each other and our supervisor, we left it as nonfiction but will remember the book for likely storytimes next year when we do a baseball storytime in April when we will be located next to the Padre's baseball stadium. It is a pleasant book and will be good for storytime for baseball loving kids. It is an excellent description of what happens in Little League practice. Just the book to hand to a parent looking to reassure their kid that they really do want to join Little League or similar groups.
April 17, 2010
I checked this Texas 2X2 book out from our school library thinking my middle and youngest son might like the subject. We all enjoyed the simple rhyming of the book (and my middle son's teacher might be delighted to know he pointed out that not ALL poetry has to rhyme...) But the illustrations made this more than a simple poetry book about the joys of baseball practice. Each page is lush and so realistic, the reader feels as if they are right there on the field with the kids. As a mom, I enjoyed seeing children of both genders and all races included. Beautiful.
September 4, 2008
Someone said "the story is slight". Well, this is not a book intended to have more of a story line than a bunch of kids playing baseball. And the art is wonderful, especially the facial expressions, conveying emotions that need no additional text.
This will be nice for younger sports lovers who are not ready for big kid baseball books--and we get a lot of requests for this sort of thing, and for older kids as well.
This will be nice for younger sports lovers who are not ready for big kid baseball books--and we get a lot of requests for this sort of thing, and for older kids as well.
Read
April 1, 2016This is a super cute book about baseball that any kid would love, it would be great when talking about all of the different types of sports but also it would be fantastic when talking about rhyming words and poetry. This would be great for kids who love baseball but do not seem to interested in learning about poetry or rhyming words. The artwork is amazing and the movement of the characters is wonderful! 10/10 would recommend!
December 19, 2008
Smooth, action-packed close-ups and enthusiastic rhyme focus on the glorious details of little league practice in this almost 3D glimpse of spring.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
October 19, 2009
This is a simple rhyming picture book about baseball practice. But the illustrations are fascinating: hyper-realistic, black and white, and sharply angled in perspective. My son is obsessed and insisted we find other books in the series at the library. And my daughter (the baseball fan) liked it too.
March 9, 2010
Format: Picture Book
Interest Level: K-2
This book uses poetry to look at America's favorite past-time. This book shows young children warming up and praticing before they play a baseball game.
This book would be good to use with young students who want to learn about what you need to do to get ready to play a game of ball.
Interest Level: K-2
This book uses poetry to look at America's favorite past-time. This book shows young children warming up and praticing before they play a baseball game.
This book would be good to use with young students who want to learn about what you need to do to get ready to play a game of ball.
November 27, 2012
I really enjoyed this story. The illustrations were realistic, which is something that I thought made the book unique. I would read this book before we had field day or possibly when my students are learning about poetry. I would have my students try and create their own poem about their favorite sport, or something they enjoy to watch or do. I really thought this book was great!
February 8, 2013
Alex showed me this book because he knows I love baseball, just like he does and I love poetry. The illustrations are done in Sepia and are very cool. We will need to get a classroom copy of this book to add to our baseball bucket. I love it when friends give me great book recommendations. Thanks, Alex!
April 28, 2013
The best part of this book is the amazing illustrations. Drawn in all sepia tones with only the baseball standing out with its white and red colors, Bill Thomson, the illustration, really makes the ball stand out. Beyond the illustrations, the book has a fun storyline about baseball practice.
Publication Date: 2008
Age/Grade level: preschool to 2nd grade
Format: Print Book
Publication Date: 2008
Age/Grade level: preschool to 2nd grade
Format: Print Book
January 14, 2009
Nevius has written a book about baseball practice that is packed with action while using language sparingly. Her words are perfectly paired with the AMAZING illustrations if Bill Thomson. A picture book that is both fun to read and look through.
January 7, 2009
We picked this as our mock Caldecott winner in Queens Library. The illustrations are spectacular. Every kid could see themselves in this book. The simple rhymes take the reader through a little league practice session. This book would work for a variety of ages.
January 19, 2009
Excellent, hyperrealistic illustrations in the Van Allsburg/Weisner mold in this one. But where those two illustrators tend towards the surreal, this one is based in more mundane territory: little league practice. The rhyming text is pretty simple; the illustrations are definitely the stars here.
January 29, 2012
Nevius' verse-like text shares what a team of culturally diverse kids do during baseball hour, aka baseball practice. Thomson's illustrations are a warm sepia except for the red stitching on the baseball---I love this approach, it's powerful.
Want to Read
April 14, 2008Ages 4 to 8
October 31, 2008
Excellent, realistic illustrations- nice for older children who may be starting on a team.
June 20, 2008
A fun rhyming book about the how-to's of baseball. Perfect for kids who are starting t-ball.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews