A Big Day for Baseball

Magic Tree House #29

by Mary Pope Osborne, A.G. Ford (Illustrator)

Meet Jackie Robinson and solve a mystery in the #1 bestselling Magic Tree House chapter book series!

PLAY BALL! Jack and Annie aren't great baseball players . . . yet! Then Morgan the librarian gives them magical baseball caps that will make them experts. They just need to wear the caps to a special ballgame in Brooklyn, New York. The magic tree house whisks them back to 1947!

When they arrive, Jack and Annie find out that they will be batboys in the game--not ballplayers. What exactly does Morgan want them to learn? And what's so special about this game? They only have nine innings to find out!

Discover history, mystery, humor, and baseball in this one-of-a-kind adventure in Mary Pope Osborne's New York Times bestselling Magic Tree House series lauded by parents and teachers as books that encourage reading.

Magic Tree House books, with fiction and nonfiction titles, are perfect for parents and teachers using the Core Curriculum. With a blend of magic, adventure, history, science, danger, and cuteness, the topics range from kid pleasers (pirates, the Titanic, pandas) to curriculum perfect (rain forest, American Revolution, Abraham Lincoln) to seasonal shoo-ins (Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving). There is truly something for everyone here!

Have more fun with Jack and Annie on the Magic Tree House website at MagicTreeHouse.com!

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Sports, Time Travel

88 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of baseball, this book is a home run! Jack and Annie travel back to 1947 and meet Jackie Robinson, learning valuable lessons about teamwork and courage. The blend of historical facts with a fun adventure makes it perfect for young readers who enjoy sports and history. Fans of the series will appreciate the engaging storyline and the opportunity to learn about a significant figure in American history. -Teen Volunteer Adhyyan R.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars ~

Eh. It could be better. ;P

[Arti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed the Magic Tree House series - for the ease and simplicity with which they expose kids to historical events, cultures, personalities, discoveries and even a simple life lesson to draw from... this book attempts the same but the adventure is too simplistic and the usual charm is missing...

The story is written around baseball - with an underlying theme of racial integration - and takes us all back to a game in Brooklyn NY in 1947...

Jack and Annie - who can hardly play the game themselves - participate in the game as batboys, but miss most of the game after they lose their magic caps and are thrown out of the ground... but their chance encounter with 2 kids (twins) gives them a chance to hear the final stages of the game on radio and join in the celebration as Jackie Robinson helps his team win the game in his debut in major baseball league... they are surprised that only part of the crowd cheers for him while the other call out mean things... they discover that he was the first game ever to have an African American play (something they take for granted in their own time), even more surprised to know that they are the first white people to visit the the twins house... thus they witness - first hand - the harsh but true life as it existed before racial integration...

But it's the courage with which Jackie ignores the insults, stays focused on the game and gives his best that really shines thru as the inspiration - not to be afraid of others making fun of you, but rise above what is mean and low, to stand up and simply try your best - always focusing on the good, and keeping your dignity, your self respect...

[Kori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and easy read for students in the middle elementary grades. The two children in the story are transported in time through their magic tree house to the 1940's when there was segregation. The main characters Jack and Annie are not great baseball players and are nervous for their little league tryouts. When they are transported back in time they are able to see Jackie Robinson play and witness the fight for civil rights. It is an easy and fun read and provides a certain amount of historical context for the reader to empathize with the struggles people of color faced back then.

In my classroom this would be a book I would provide my students to read in my classroom library. Series like this are great for motivating children to read. If they enjoy the books, I say let them read them all they want! This would be a great book to recommend to students who are sports fans. I also think it would be a quick and fun read-aloud for the teacher to share with students. It might spark an interest in the series as a whole and get kids reading.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your 7-year-old grandson hands you the book he just finished and says, "you should read this nana. You would really like it."? You read it of course! And then you find out that these books are really quite good and informative. And they have a good message as well. But the best part is that my geandson would even think to offer me the opportunity to read something he liked!

[Alivia Brown]

Can’t go wrong with a Magic Treehouse. This book, which tells the story of Jackie Robinson, would be a great first introduction to civil rights, racism and intolerance in a way that is very digestible for a young kiddo.

[David Freudenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful and clever book! The author expertly brings in the major events and issues, but doesn't allow them to take over the book. Instead, she provides an age-appropriate story with characters, plot, suspense, and a climax. Very engaging and seems to be historically accurate.

[Micah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was boring. I liked learning about baseball. I didn't like how people were mean to Jackie Robinson just because his skin was a different color. That's so stupid!

[Talyr Lerwill]

Read this one to my kiddos. This was a great magic tree house story that brought up great discussions with my kids. I love the simple ways this series has brought topics like racism into our evening readings. It’s an easy way to talk about things that happened in history without it feeling so heavy. In a household of differentiating races, it feels nice to have children’s books available that discuss these important topics with my kids.

[Isabella (isabunchofbooks)]

I'm not going to rate this - I read it for a class and it's a Magic Tree House book. It's not something I need to rate. However, I do feel like this story - despite having good intentions - perpetuates some harmful narratives. I was definitely reading this with an analytical and critical mind, so I was definitely reading this in a different way.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Jack and Annie magically turned into bat boys. I didn't like this book because the manager fired them because he figured out that they were actually kids.

[Jordan Henrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I’d rate Magic Treehouse books a 2 or a 3 for what they are. But this one is about baseball and my daughter read it to me! So I’m going with a 5!

[Cat with a book · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion it was kind of boring .
Probably because the last time I read these books I was younger

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son enjoyed it although he already knew the story of Jackie Robinson. I found the book overly simplistic, personally.

[Nickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course this book was fun because it’s Magic Tree House. But I really was hoping for some sort of interaction with Jackie Robinson, but you can’t always get was you want.

[Hope Anderson (HopelessBookAddict) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Alice' Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

First summer read aloud with the kids!

[Kathryn Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. This confronted so many issues so casually, it was a great read with my 4yo.

[em]

the villain in this book was racism

[Ajyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Meredith Nunley · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Always keep your eyes on the good, children.”

Such a great story/historical fiction about Jackie Robinson and opens up good convo.

[Eleanor]

Listened to Audiobook

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are getting hilarious

[Eden Poon · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was...





AMAZING!!!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always fun to go time traveling with siblings Jack and Annie, especially since their adventures allow them and readers to learn a little bit about an important time or place in history. In this case, they receive special ball caps from Morgan the librarian and head to Brooklyn, New York in 1947. The caps make both of them look older than they are as well as allowing them to play the part of bat boys during the baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves. As it turns out, the youngsters have a ringside seat for part of the performance of Jackie Robinson and then get to hear the rest of the game on the radio in the home of a couple of new friends who are big fans of the ballplayer. Later, they realize the significance of that game, the first time an African American played in a major league baseball game, thus, helping desegregate the sport. The youngsters learn about self-respects and doing your best through the athlete's example as they note the segregated seating for fans and hear some of the disparaging remarks directed at Jackie. There are good lessons for students today in his example as well. And for those who are clueless about baseball, there are several pages in the back matter that are devoted to demystifying American's favorite pastime.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Osborne, Mary Pope Magic Tree House: A Big Day for Baseball, 75 pgs. CHAPTER BOOK Random House, 2017 $13.99 Content: G.

Jack and Annie are nervous about baseball tryouts, so when they go on an adventure in the magic tree house they find themselves in the year 1947. They are batboys during a game when Jackie Robinson is playing for the Dodgers. They meet new friends and learn about courage. When they return from their adventure they aren’t scared to try out for baseball because they know that it’s okay to try hard things.

I love the Magic Tree House series for many reasons, including that it got both my boys interesting in reading. This book has a good moral that we can try new things and the characters that Jack and Annie meet are inspirational. There are a few illustrations throughout this quick and entertaining chapter book.

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack and Annie magically travel via the treehouse to visit a very historic day on April 15, 1947. On this day in Ebbet's Field in Brooklyn, New York, Jack and Annie are batboys when Jackie Robinson made history. He was the first black player in Major League Baseball.

Even though Jackie Robinson was booed by some and called nasty names, he held his head high with dignity. He went on to become the Rookie of the Year in 1947 and an All-Star of the game. A Big Day for Baseball is a simple story which introduces kids to great day in baseball.

Includes some facts about baseball and an illustration depicting the positions on the field.

[Daphne Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter and I love this series, but this one was not her favorite. She didn't think it had the same level of adventure as the others. I love the message at the end, though. I love, also, that Mary Pope Osbourne deals which diverse historical and geographical topics.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Handles the topic of racism and integration well but the magic hats thing in the first half is just weird.