The Boy of Steel: A Baseball Dream Come True

by Ray Negron, Laura Seeley (Illustrator)

Young Michael Steel loves to watch the New York Yankees on TV—from his hospital bed. Michael has brain cancer. But when Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano visits Michael in the hospital, Michael embarks on an unexpected and wonderful journey when he becomes a Yankee batboy for a day. It's his baseball dream come true! When Michael's illness makes him weak on the field, can he be strong enough to fulfill his batboy duties and make his new teammates proud? With a little help from Yankee greats Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Roger Maris, and Mickey Mantle, Michael Steel earns his nickname "The Boy of Steel" and learns a very important Never stop fighting! Laura Seeley's vibrant, action-packed illustrations illuminate Ray Negron's touching and triumphant story, and children and parents alike will root for Michael as they learn about baseball, cancer, and a life lesson we all need to know. With a foreword by Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos, The Boy of Steel will be a hit with your little baseball fan.

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Ray Negron is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Boy of Steel: A Baseball Dream Come True, as well as two other children's picture books. He was a Yankees batboy, played minor league ball, and worked for the Cleveland Indians. He currently works with the Yankees as a special advisor on community relations for Hank Steinbrenner and Randy Levine. In addition, he is the producer of the animated film Henry & Me. He lives in Florida with his four children.

Reviews

[Spencer Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written about the fandom of the Yankees, a boys "impossible" baseball dream comes to life when needed most. I would recommend this book to any Yankees fans or to anyone who is looking for a feel-good story and loves to see life and light in seemingly dark situations. Students could write their own feel good story about people who seem to be at their lowest, but somehow get rescued from this place. They could also personally reflect on these ideas.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that the story of a child with Blastoma getting a chance to be a bat boy for the baseball team to loves isn't heartwarming, but the writing in this one just didn't do it for me. The ghosts of great Yankees of the past coming to visit is in another Ray Negron book and I didn't really enjoy that one either. It felt like a bad mix of story and Yankee promotion, with the Yankee promotion being the main ingredient. It felt extremely artificial.

[Alesha Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a little sad, but I feel that every child should read this book. It is very inspirational and it teaches children about others who may have a serious illness. Also, it teaches about high hopes and courage.

[Myles Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Children's book benefitting a great cause!

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little boy with cancer has a visit from Robinson Cano who takes him to Yankee stadium for some magic. Plausible story (kids with cancer often get trips to the ballpark). Tons of author's notes, perhaps magic a little over the top, and illustrations didn't really look like Robinson Cano.