Balletball

by Erin Dionne, Gillian Flint (Illustrator)

Nini loves everything about ballet--the sparkles, the costumes, the twirling! But in the spring there's only baseball practice. Baseball is nothing like ballet. Or is it?

Nini hates baseball. She hates that baseball is not ballet. She especially hates that Mom signed her up to play, but now she's stuck with the sport. Nini just can't bring herself to try. Her team starts to lose, but not even her teammates' disappointment will change her feelings. A pep talk from her coach and sparkly shoelaces help--a little. When Nini makes a game-winning catch using her ballet moves, she realizes that change might not be so bad after all, and ballet and baseball have more in common than she thought.

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Baseball, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

I write books for tweens, teens, and anyone who survived junior high.

Please note: I have changed my review policy. I'll no longer be using the star rating system--I'm an author, not a reviewer or editor, and I'd rather support other authors by not ranking their books. I write honest (brief) reviews for each book I read, so please look to those to find out what I loved.

Reviews

[Hannah]

THE BEST. And the best part: not one mention of the word "tomboy." Or "girly." Or anything of the sort. Ballet and baseball are both good. People are allowed to like one or the other or both. The end.

[Solia Martinez-Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nini loves ballet, but when dance class ends and baseball season begins, she’s upset and doesn’t want to play. Nini’s mother encourages her to honor her commitments, and her coach attempts to help her find a love of the game by highlighting the commonalities between the two. Balletball encourages its young readers to try new things, and be team players. Although Nini’s coach and team get frustrated with her at points, they hold her accountable for her choices rather than tease or belittle her, and they all celebrate her successes in the end.

Gillian Flint’s charming watercolor illustrations are inclusive of children of different races and abilities: Nini and her Coach are illustrated as dark skinned with dark curly hair, and her mother is dark skinned with straight hair. Nini’s co-ed baseball teammates all have different skin tones and body types: some are pale with freckles and some are tan, or darker skinned. Some children are thinner and some have more round figures. The inclusivity in Nini’s team also shows one girl with glasses, and a blonde boy with hearing aids. The background characters are also illustrated in a diverse manner, and figures in the crowd include a woman in a hijab and a same sex male couple with an infant. Balletball would be a great book to use in a storytime, or paired with a discussion addressing gender norms or celebrating the beginning of baseball season in the spring.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's a budding ballerina -- who happens to be a little girl -- going to do when her mother signs her up to play baseball.

I think we parents can guess. We parents might as well receive all the enjoyment we can from this picture book. Seems to me, it was written:

* By a grownup
* For a grownup
* So the grownup could read it to children
* And encourage them to understand that change is good

But nothing about the story or language entered into the imaginative world of a child.

THE TITLE WAS CLEVER

Otherwise, both the story and illustrations were barely adequate.

FWIW

Had the main character been a boy, rather than a girl...

Do you think that cute little boy would have decided "right then that he did not like baseball" because of how his uniform looked in the mirror?

Would it strain credulity how that cute little boy missed his "pink ballet shoes"?

Even worse to me, imagine a main character (a character of any age) who longed to reunite with his friends in a place where they had a "smooth, shiny studio floor" -- rather than an "uneven, lumpy grassy field"?

If this sort of thing appeals to you, by all means read "Balletball" to your child.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When ballet is over for the season, Nini is dismayed when she must begin playing baseball. Baseball is nothing like her sparkly, ‘leapy” and “twirly” ballet. Her stubborn refusal to participate causes problems with her team and coach until he finds a way to connect baseball with some of the things she loves about ballet.

The themes of teamwork, motivation, trying your best, and being open to new experiences are explored in a picture book for young readers. Gillian Flint’s water color and brush pen illustrations are exceptional. The pastel color palate “pops” and her characters are diverse and inclusive. Educators and parents looking for books to foster social emotional learning may be interested in adding it to their curriculum picture book reading choices.

I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina loves dance and her sparkly tutu. After her recital though her mom reminds her that she is signed up for baseball next. Nina cannot wear her tutu to baseball. She cannot do her ballet moves. She HATES baseball so she refuses to participate or follow the rules. Soon though her coach convinces her that she can use her ballet to be better at baseball and she is finally able to integrate and try at baseball. She even nicknames her moves as BALLETBALL. This is a great title for those girls that are not so sure about baseball. It encourages them to try and do their best. This is a fun title that shows that working together and doing your best is what you need to do. A solid purchase for most picture book collections.

[Madison Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed “Balletball” because it sends a positive message about having multiple interests, which is something young kids can really benefit from. Nini’s story is powerful, showing that it’s okay to pursue different activities. This book would be a great addition to a 1st or 2nd grade classroom because it encourages students to explore their passions without feeling like they have to only pick one. The way I would present this book in my classroom would be as a read aloud. Reading it aloud would engage the students with the story and allow for discussions about the students interests and how they can support each other, like Nini’s interest for ballet and baseball. After the reading aloud, the book will also be put in the reading center for students to revisit on their own, reinforcing the message.

[Calla]

This is a super cute book! It's about a little girl who loves ballet but when ballet is over for the year, her parents sign her up for baseball. She doesn't necessarily love baseball because she wants to wear sparkly bows & tutus and she keeps getting scolded for doing ballet out on the field. Her coach tries to help her by buying her sparkly shoelaces and in the end she uses skills she learned in ballet (like leaping, twirling and plies) to help win the game! I loved that this book teaches you that skills you learn in other aspects of your life can apply when you least expect it!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nini loves ballet. But at the end of the season there is no more ballet, but there is baseball. Nini immediately decides she doesn't like baseball. She refuses to follow directions. That is until her coach gets creative to get her cooperation.

A good story for teaching teamwork, participation and learning to try new things. Just a bit didactic.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nini loves ballet - and hates baseball! But then coach explains how many athletes have taken ballet lessons to help get better at their sport. Nini starts to see that she can apply some of the things she has learned in ballet to become a better baseball player! This is a fantastic way to show small children how they can expand and grow their interests!

[Kelly]

This book is really cute. And it's true that sports players often take dance to improve on their work in the field. I think anyone who likes sports (including dance) would like this book. I might try it with the kindergarteners. A diverse cast including a boy with a hearing aid!

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough flipping of the "it's too girly" trope...this time she doesn't want to do baseball because it doesn't sparkle or twirl like ballet. Predictable. She's annoying, I like the character of the coach and the things he says to reach her.

[Stefanie Foard · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I read a digital ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Elizabeth]

I hate that Nini hates baseball.
I do however, like that there was a child with hearing aids/cochlear implants in this book.

[HPL Kids Picture Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl discovers that Baseball and Ballet go together like peanut butter and jelly. A particularly great read for anyone who likes get sparkly and play in the dirt.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balletball made my heart leap, plié and curtsy. Nini who loves ballet learns to love baseball too. Engaging and down to earth watercolor illustrations. Heartily recommended!

[Brenda Kahn]

Cute story about making the best of things and following through on commitments.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really neat story.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty straightforward sportsball/dance mashup. Predictable but not too inane, good message about trying your best for your team.

[Bunmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute read. A reminder that you can enjoy more than one thing, it's good to try something new, and some skills are transferable. Overall, it made me smile.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nini loves ballet she does not like baseball. Until, she gets encouragement from her coach she learns that in some ways baseball can be like ballet.

[Violet Lemay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Balletball" is charming and fun to read out loud. The art is beautiful, too. I love this book!

[Sierra Reyelts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book

[Jessie]

This is a book about teaching -- all the work the coach does to make baseball relatable and relevant to Nini, even if doesn't start with the best approach.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nini loves ballet, but ballet is over, and Nini is signed up to play baseball, which she doesn't like. Her coach convinces her that baseball like ballet is a team activity, and everyone must do their part. Nini comes up with a way to do her part for the team.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi library PJ story time 04-12-2023