Lucy Tries Baseball

by Lisa Bowes, James Hearne (Illustrator)

Promote active play and physical literacy with this baseball picture book for kids where Lucy and her friends learn about teamwork and how to play baseball.

Lucy is playing catch with her family at the park when she is invited to join her friends' baseball team. Their friendly coach teaches them the basics of offense and defense as they practice catching, hitting and fielding. Then they use these skills in a real game, where Lucy must overcome her fear of getting hit by the ball. With encouragement from Coach Al, Lucy steps up to the plate and gives her best swing. Playing a big part in the game's exciting finish, Lucy realizes what makes baseball such a fun sport to play with family and friends.

Lucy Tries Baseball is the sixth title in the Lucy Tries Sports series, following books about basketball, hockey, soccer, short track and luge. The series encourages children to get active and participate in sports and recreation.

Available in French as Lucy joue au baseball, and in Spanish as Lucy juega al béisbol.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2023

About the author

Lisa Bowes has been recognized across Canada for her work as a sports reporter, live host, anchor, play-by-play announcer and producer. While working for CBC, she was nominated for a Gemini Award for best writing in an information program or series.

At the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Lisa was CTV’s host/reporter for women’s hockey.

Reviews

[Jess]

As someone who grew up around baseball, I was very curious at the explanations.

Which are a home run!

This book works well as a beginner guide for younger kids who want to to join the sport. Someone between T-Ball and slightly older will find the rhymes and illustrations easy to understand. Great reminders between practice and game days.

[Storywraps]

Lucy and her family are at the park playing catch and having a great time together. She gets invited to join her friends' baseball team! Is she up to the challenge?

She decides to give it a go and discovers her coach is encouraging and friendly to all the players especially the novice ones. He patiently teaches them the basics of the sport of baseball. Lucy loves the logistics of the game but fears getting hit by the ball.

Forever the encourager, coach Al helps Lucy overcome her fear. She steps up to the plate and gives it her best swing. Lucy is excited to be part of the game at hand and feels very happy to be part of her new-found sport.

"Lucy Tries Baseball" is the sixth title in the "Lucy Tries Sports" series. Other books available are about basketball, hockey, soccer, short track and luge. The mission of the series is to get kids active and involved in sports and recreation. The illustrations are phenomenal and very kid-friendly. I love the book and the whole concept of kids becoming much more active and I highly recommend it!

[Aimee]

WOW! What a great educational book about baseball!

Lucy Tries Baseball is a great social story for young kids trying baseball for the very first time. We learned what practices will look look, the gear we need, tips for not being afraid, and the best thing-- that baseball is FUN!

After reading this book, I'm absolutely going to go look for her soccer version for my 4 year old who just started yesterday. These are such a great way to introduce kids to the sport they are interested in. James Hearne's illustrations beautifully show children that baseball is fun!

However, the thing that I love most about this book are the little value gems that the author teaches our kids. Its so important to teach in a way that our children can understand. Lisa Bowes nailed that!
-Inclusion
-Health
-Teamwork
-Spreading Kindness
-Encouragment

Great book that I can't wait to share with my own children!

Thank you Net Galley, Orca Book Publishers, Lisa Bowes, and James Hearne for the opportunity to read and review your book! I can't wait for more.

[Panda Incognito]

This picture book uses extremely simple text and colorful, cartoony illustrations to introduce kids to the concept of baseball. The premise isn't very realistic, since Lucy is just passing through the park with her family whens she gets involved with a game and receives a uniform, and I found some of the transitions within the story abrupt and confusing. Still, this book introduces basic baseball concepts and emotions related to game play. This is fine for families to read together, and is simple enough for kids who are just learning to read, but the Kids' Sports Stories series is more realistic while still reading at a similar level.

I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Firetruckmama]

This is the first book I read in the Lucy Tries Sports series. This book is told in rhyme with very colorful illustrations. Lucy is asked to join a baseball team and learns about the sport from her coach - from necessary equipment, practicing, and necessary basics (fielding, hitting, and running). It's a cute book. I'd say that if you know someone interested in sports that you pick this book up. While I love the idea of this book (and series!), it was a bit simplistic for my child - but my kid's been to a number of live games (and local practices) and asked a gazillion questions. Adorable illustrations!

[Amberleigh Million • a.millionbooks]

Lucy Tries Baseball is an adorably written book about a girl who joins a baseball team. As a former softball player, I'm always really excited to find books that depict girls as athletes. The story was rhyming and entertaining. My young boys really enjoyed it. The illustrations were also excellent.

This would be the perfect book for early readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

[Brittany Kegley]

Cute book about getting ready for little league baseball including overcoming fears of the baseball pitch.

The book is super cute and took my interest from the cover as my nieces and nephews are beginning to start baseball and my husband is coaching. The book talks about how practicing can be fun and tips for overcoming being a little afraid. Loved it and the kiddos will to!

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun]

We LOVED this book. Perfect to read during baseball season- and really anytime!
Our students loved learning the rules of baseball in a really kid-friendly, beginner way- and they loved the bright, cartoon-like illustrations!

This was a HIT- and we look forward to reading more from this sports series.

[Ryan]

This is one of multiple books in the Lucy series. Lucy joins a baseball team and learns that it’s OK to be a little afraid to get hit by the ball. The book has a nice rhyming pattern that keeps moving the story forward, the cadence works, and all-around. This is just a fun reading. I do like that it’s showing a girl playing baseball and not just the boys.

[el (celestialbronz)]

Ok this one's so cute. It's about a girl who--well--tried baseball for the first time. I think it's important for kids to know various activities and got to try some of them since young age, and this book is a good introduction.

[Kris Reguera]

Cute and diverse enough, a good story for young kids who love baseball. I liked that the main character is a girl in a mixed baseball team and that the story introduces some basics of the sport.

[Sherry Scheline]

Great little read. Wonderful colourful illustrations:

[Sarah B]

This story follows Lucy as she learns all about the sport of baseball and overcomes her fears at the plate. As a big baseball fan, I thought this was a great introduction to the sport for some little ones who might be starting out. I did feel like the first four pages of the story felt out of place, but I did appreciate the story in rhyme (it’s always a bonus). It also included a few “fast facts” at the end about some baseball terms used throughout the book.