Baseball Is...

February 10, 2014
More than a decade after America Is..., Borden returns with a rosy tribute to the national pastime, this time accompanied by Colón, whose pencil illustrations virtually glow with sunset golds and the lime greens of the outfield. Most of Borden’s verse is dedicated to capturing the sounds, smells, and emotions of the game itself (“Baseball is the scamper of the bat boy/ and the distant shout in the stands:/ ‘Peanuts!’/ ‘Popcorn!’ ”). But the game’s history is also felt, both in inset images that, for instance, show the technology used by announcers past and present, and in detours that honor presidential connections to the game, a trio of players (Ruth, Robinson, and Clemente), and “the minor leagues/ and Little League,/ the talented and long ago Negro Leagues,/ the women’s league.” It’s a warm and passionate ode to the game, whether it’s being played in stadiums or backyards. Ages 7–10. Illustrator’s agent: Morgan Gaynin Inc.

Starred review from February 1, 2014
Baseball is more than a sport; in Borden's unabashed celebration, it embodies the essence of the social, historic and emotional fabric of our nation. Baseball has played a part in wars, social upheaval, urban and suburban development, immigration demographics, business conglomerates and investment swindles. It is also myth and mystery and the stuff of the American dream. People who love the game feel it in every sense, and to them, the minutiae are as elemental as the heroes, the great plays and the spectacle. Borden attempts to capture all of it in a lovely evocation of everything that is conjured up when a devoted fan hears the words "baseball is...." She employs deceptively simple language and the briefest of phrases filled with instant imagery that mingles past and present, spectators and players. Readers see, hear, smell and taste every aspect of the game. Nothing is forgotten or minimalized. The ballparks, the souvenirs and the hot dogs are all here from the major leagues to Little League. Colon's exuberant colored-pencil illustrations are lovingly matched to the text and bring it to glorious life. The game is seen from every perspective on double-page spreads that incorporate vignettes in frames of every shape as well as a gatefold with the likes of Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Love of our national game shines in every word and picture. A grand slam. (Picture book. 7-10)

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January 1, 2014

Gr 2-5-This picture-book tribute salutes our national pastime, whose "stories are stitched through our nation's history." Borden enumerates the elements of the game, including ballparks and fans, plays and players, in crisp verses paired with Colon's textured and lively drawings: "Baseball is the fastball, the curveball, the knuckleball, the slider, the crack of the bat...." A fold-out page gives special attention to Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. The author also mentions the "long ago" Negro leagues and the women's league; and notes baseball's ability to bring diverse people together. Emphasis is placed on patriotic elements, such as the playing of the national anthem and the American flag flying above the stands "like a familiar friend." Throughout, Colon's expressive art, rendered in colored pencil and watercolors, enlivens the sometimes static, message-laden narrative. This is a beautiful, well-crafted, and oversize text that will be welcomed and embraced by fans of the game.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

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