Baseball for Breakfast: A (Mostly) True Story

by Judy Campbell-Smith, Margaret Carroll (Illustrator)

The perfect start to any day is with ushers in nightgowns and Cornflakes instead of popcorn. Join Jimmy as he experiences morning baseball during WWII.

Based on real historical events, this fictional book for ages 5 to 8 celebrates America’s pastime and resilience through the eyes of one Black child.

Jimmy’s family loves going to Milwaukee Brewers games together, but all that changes during World War II when Pop goes overseas to fight and Ma starts working nights in a factory. Then Jimmy has a chance meeting with the team’s owner and helps inspire a new morning baseball games!

Jimmy is about to experience baseball in a whole new way (it may involve Cornflakes). A perfect solution so night shift workers can end their day with a game while others begin theirs.

Written by Judy Campbell-Smith, Baseball for Breakfast celebrates family, fun, and being American during a turbulent time when people were tested for their resilience.

Genres: Sports, Picture Books, Historical Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun, inspiring baseball story is inspired by true events from World War II. The story follows a fictional main character who misses attending baseball games with his family, since his father is overseas fighting and his mother is working the night shift at a factory. Then, after a chance encounter with the owner of his favorite baseball team, the owner decides to host morning games for factory workers.

This is a really sweet story, and it's full of fun details about the pageantry and rituals created for these early morning baseball games. The author's note at the end explains which parts are fact or fiction, and it was fun to learn about this forgotten bit of history through the framing device of the fictional child's experience.

I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Nazneen Akbari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up for my 7-year-old and we both absolutely loved it. It’s such a unique slice of history that I actually hadn’t heard of before -- morning baseball games for night-shift workers during WWII!

The story follows Jimmy, a young Black boy navigating the changes at home while his dad is away at war. It manages to touch on some heavy themes like family separation and resilience, but keeps it light and 'sweet' . Seeing the stadium filled with people in nightgowns instead of jerseys was such a fun, vivid image that really stuck with my kid.

If you’re looking for a picture book that teaches history through a diverse lens without feeling like a dry textbook, this is it. It’s heartwarming, rhythmic, and a great tribute to the way communities find joy even in tough times. Highly recommend for any little baseball fans!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet baseball story about the Milwaukee Brewers that even a Cubs fan would love. It tells the story of Jimmy, a young African American boy, who loves going to Milwaukee Brewers games with his mother and father. When his father joins the navy during World War II, his mother starts to work nights in a factory, meaning there is no time for baseball games. Jimmy meets the eccentric Mr. Veeck, the owner of the Brewers, and inspires Mr. Veeck to create morning games for factory workers and their families. This historical fiction picture book is interesting, informative, and humorous.
I loved the informative author's note and the selected bibliography included at the end of the book. Perfect for any library collection.

[Suhasini Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baseball for Breakfast, written by Judy Campbell and illustrated by Margaret Carroll, is a fun and informative story based on real historical events. When Jimmy’s father joins the World War II Navy, and his mother works overnight, there’s no time for evening baseball games. That changes when Mr. Veeck, owner of the Brewers, shifts the games to the morning so factory workers can enjoy them together. I especially loved the illustrations and the clever line, “A ball game was the perfect way to end (start) the day.” This book is highly recommended for children, as it celebrates family, resilience, and the joy of spending time together.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this historical fiction picture book. I've never really been a baseball girl, but I can appreciate the Americana of the sport. Nowhere is that quite as true as here with this book. The illustrations are fun and feel kind of vintage, the story is silly to counterbalance the world war angle, and I liked reading more about the true inspiration for this book in the back. I especially appreciated how this book centers a Black family.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Campbell-Smith's words and Maggie Carroll's illustrations pair together as beautifully as hot dogs and a baseball game! This story is a bright spot in an otherwise dark and difficult time in history. The way ordinary Americans stepped up to fight and fill in the gaps and field an audience is remarkable to learn about, but it's also fun! This book should be on everyone's bookshelf!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun story! It packs in little historic facts with a heartfelt, inspirational story about the sacrifices made during WW II while keeping a hopeful message of community. Non-baseball fans will even enjoy this vivid tale full of heart and humor.

[Jo Renfro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and this is such a cool story! So interesting to learn how people came together to make things better for each other during WWII. Heartwarming and fun. It's not just for baseball fans!

[Brentom Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story packed with history. The illustrator captures the times and the author captures your heart. What a beautiful tribute to the men, women and children of the World War II era.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Wisconsin connection.