Customer Reviews

Zachary's Ball (Tavares baseball books)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the kind of children's book that comes along rarely (and usually wins awards when it does...). The black-and-white pencil illustrations are astonishing. The young boy's face is literally lit from within -- something that would seem technically impossible with such a simple medium. And the story is pure magic. I gave the book to my husband (a big baseball fan) and he couldn't get past the first page without tears in his eyes, remembering his first visit to Fenway Park. But you don't have to be a baseball fan (or a man!) to cherish this story about a young man and his magic baseball. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages -- and for anyone who simply appreciates beautiful art. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this author/illustrator in the months and years to come.

I often read these reviews, but I've never written one before... I got this for my 4 1/2 year old boy and he loves it. I'm not a big baseball fan, but I get choked up every time I read "Zachary' Ball." I've just ordered more copies to have on hand for gifts. The sense of innocence, magic and timelessness remind me of "The Polar Express." I look forward to more from Matt Tavares.

I have the very great honor of seeing this book before it was published, and meeting the author. He's created a lovely work, which captures in elegant drawings and brief text the magic that childhood can have. There is a timeless quality to the story as well. The storyline is simple and best left as a surprise, but if you are looking for a good book for a young reader, particularly one who loves baseball, you can't go wrong with this book. Fans of Fenway Park will also be quite pleased.

Matt Tavares has put back into the children's book industry a dignity that has been missing for a very, very long time. The illustrations, combined with the timelss story, create a potential collectors item that I will pass onto my two children, in the hopes that they will someday read this, or another future book from this promising young author, to their kids. Give it a try, makes a great gift.

I, too, was lucky enough to meet the author and view his work before it was published. This book is a modern "Giving Tree," with outstanding illustrations and a delightful story. This talented young author/illustrator will surely develop a faithful following of children and adults alike. Five stars!

Matt has captured the magic of attending a game at Fenway Park in splendid fashion. It brought back warm memories of attending my first Red Sox game with my father almost 25 years ago. With a sweet story and the amazing drawings, this is a must-read book for any young kid. It will surely start a love affair with the game of baseball.

My two and 1/2 year old LOVES this book. With all the garbage out there it was nice to find a book that reminded me of my childhood books. This is definately a classic that will be passed down in my family.

The plot of ZACHARY'S BALL is basic enough: it tells the story of Zachary and his father attending a baseball game, Zachary's father catching a ball, and the dream that the young man has when he falls asleep. Tavaraes accomplishes three things in this book. First, he beautifully tells the story of a touching father/son memory. He also writes about his love of baseball. Perhaps the book's greatest accomplishment is the way in which he brings Fenway Park and the Red Sox to life. The Red Sox are one of the more magical and mythical teams in baseball and fit well into Tavares' tale.

Young readers will love the book, but it will definitely touch a chord with Red Sox fans young and old.

In this age of video games and cartoons, its wonderful to see a room full of 80 second grade students fascinated for a full hour by Matt Travares reading his old fashioned tale about baseball and describing the writing process. No technology can replace the power of a good book!

A boy watches his first game at Fenway Park with his dad. After his dad catches a ball in the stands and hands it to him the boy proclaims, " This baseball is magic!"

I can just imagine how excited my 7 year old Red Sox fan would be if he attended a game at Fenway Park and came home with a ball! He wouldn't stop talking about it for months!!

Tavares does a great job of capturing the magic that baseball holds for young fans, as well as the transfer of that magic from one generation to the next.

We all enjoyed this book at our house hope to one day visit Fenway Park and watch the Red Sox play.