Customer Reviews

Eyewitness: Baseball

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'd been trying to teach my six-year old son about the game when I came across this book. It really helped explain how everything works and the pictures were a perfect way to keep him engaged. It even taught me some stuff I didn't know!

There is a little bit about everything in "Eyewitness: Baseball." Ultimately, James Kelley's book focuses as much on how the game is played as its history. So while there are chapters on Babe Ruth, World Series Heroes and the Baseball hall of Fame, young readers will also learn about bats and balls, baserunning, baseball cards and statistics. There are sections on Little League, Women in Baseball, the Negro Leagues, and International Baseball. Like I said, young readers will learn a little bit about many different facets of the game. There are dozens of photographs, not only of great players but various types of equipment and memorabilia. One of the nice touches are the little notational details which are used to explain the mechanics of Raul Mondesi throwing the ball in from right field, that Jackie Robinson never played the outfield despite what it says on his 1954 Topps baseball card, and points out the Carlton Fisk's bat in a photo of him urging his home run fair in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. While it is true that the more you already know about baseball the more you will enjoy this illustrated extravaganza, it will also serve to let younger fans know all the rich history of the game that is out there for them to explore because for every photograph of a contemporary superstar like Mark McGwire and Derek Jeter there are pictures of Grover Cleveland Alexander and Yogi Berra. I was surprised that a single book would try to both educate youngsters about the history fo the game and instruct them on how to improve their play, but "Eyewitness: Baseball" actually succeeds in doing a bit of both.

My 9year son has shown interest for baseball and this book helped him with all his questions. He is a die hard Yankees fan just like the rest of the family. This book has the facts of baseball and other facts.

My 4 year old loves for us to read this to him before bed. He loves the pictures and we find the writing interesting. A great find.