The Bat Boy & His Violin
Reginald is much more interested in playing his violin than he is in playing baseball but when his daddy needs a bat boy for the Dukes, the Negro League team he coaches, Reginald reluctantly agrees to go on the road, so long as he can take his violin along with him. Clumsy with the bats, he spends most of his time sitting in the dugout, playing his violin, much to his father's dismay. Surprisingly, the team starts a winning streak and they credit Reginald's music for their change of fortune. While the story is set in the past and includes details about life in the Negro Leagues, the real story here is about the relationship between a father and son who clearly value different things in life, a theme that will resonate with many young readers. E. B. Lewis's realistic watercolor paintings aptly portray the historical setting as well as bright summer days on the baseball field. ©1998 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 5-9
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
20th Century
African Americans
Fathers
Historical Fiction
Music and Musicians
Segregation
Sports
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
Publish Year: 1998
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0689800991
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Curtis