Take Me Out to the Yakyu

Starred review from November 26, 2012
Debut illustrator Meshon’s comparison of American and Japanese baseball is a skillful double play, entertaining (and educating) young baseball fans while affirming the growing number of children who live between two countries and two cultures. Flat, naïf acrylics and simple words report the boy narrator’s parallel experiences: “In America, Pop Pop gets me a
giant foam hand. In Japan, Ji Ji gets me a giant plastic horn. In America, Pop Pop also gets us hot dogs and peanuts.... In
Japan, Ji Ji also gets us soba noodles and edamame.” The artwork provides more information (two paper tickets lie on the American food tray, while Ji Ji’s cellphone displays electronic tickets). Meshon’s spreads make it clear that though material circumstances may differ, human emotions are just the same. “Are we there yet?” shouts a speech balloon spouting out of the boy’s station wagon in the American stadium’s parking lot. “Yes, we are!” comes the answer from the bus-train arriving at its Japanese counterpart. Making a book that’s equal parts affection and edification isn’t easy; Meshon’s record is one for one. Ages 2–6.

Starred review from March 1, 2013
A young boy enjoys the best of two baseball worlds. This fortunate youngster can savor the fine points of baseball in America and yakyu in Japan. While in America, Pop-Pop drives him to the stadium in the station wagon and buys him a foam hand and hot dogs. In Japan, Ji Ji takes him to the dome in a bus-train and buys a plastic horn and soba noodles. At the games they variously cheer "get a hit" or "do your best." Seventh-inning stretch calls for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" or the team anthem and a release of balloons. In America, his team wins, but in Japan, it ends in a tie, allowable within their rules. Appropriate souvenirs are purchased, and after a wonderful day, Gramma or Ba Ba has a warm bath ready. The comparisons are made mostly on facing pages with matching sentences and illustrations rendered in strong, bright acrylic paint. American scenes have mostly blue backgrounds or highlights, while the Japanese counterparts are red. It's all a perfectly constructed, vivid picture of the two nations' particular takes on what has become both of their national pastimes, as well as a multigenerational love of the game. Colorful charts of Japanese and English baseball terms and other words add to the fun. Yakyu or baseball, it's all sheer joy. (Picture book. 3-8)

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Starred review from February 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-A young boy compares and contrasts the game of baseball as it is played and enjoyed by fans in the United States and in Japan. He has the good fortune of experiencing the action in both countries. "My American pop pop takes me to watch baseball at the stadium./My Japanese ji ji takes me to watch yakyu at the dome." Everything from transportation to and from the ballpark to snacks, souvenirs, and the appropriate cheers is included, as well as differences in the actual play. A glossary of both baseball and "Other Fun Words" is appended, as is an informative author's note outlining other differences. The bright and cheerful acrylic illustrations feature shades of blue for the U. S. and reds for Japan, making it easy to distinguish between the two. The pages are nicely designed with clean lines and no clutter. A lively and enjoyable read for baseball fans, and a great choice for those compare-and-contrast lessons.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2013
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Holding baseball jerseys from both the U.S. and Japan, this picture book's young biracial narrator opens this two-country excursion by stating, I love baseball . . . in America . . . and in Japan. Readers will see why as the boy attends games in each country, accompanied by a doting grandfather. In the snappy text and parallel panels and pages, the boy delights in pointing out the differences in everything from the ballpark food (peanuts vs. soba noodles) to cheers and customs, though the pictures show some similarities as well. The day concludes with a bubble bath in the U.S., a steam ofuro in Japan, and then bed, surrounded by souvenirs of the day. The art has a fresh, attractive, naif quality that fits the story perfectly. Using mostly blue for the American team and red for the Japanese, the bright artwork does an excellent job of delineating each place while capturing the enthusiasm they share. Final pages include a chart of baseball words and other terms in English and Japanese and an author's note with additional information. Easy to follow and fascinating even for nonfans, this bicultural baseball outing provides a fresh, joyful take on the grand old game.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)