F Is for Fenway: America's Oldest Major League Ballpark (Sleeping Bear Alphabets)

Gr 1-4--This title celebrates the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park and all things Red Sox. The verses that are paired with each letter can be clunky at times ("N is for Numbers/Elected to the Hall of Fame, /10 years a Red Sox, played the game./For players honored and admired, /all their numbers are retired"), but when combined with the illustrations and the detailed comments, they effectively bring to life a piece of Fenway trivia. Pallotta's enthusiasm for the team is apparent as he pays homage to the Green Monster, the Jimmy Fund, Pesky's Pole, the Triangle, and Williamsburg. Cartoon illustrations in pen and digital media complement the energetic text, and close-ups of the fans and players reflect the cultural diversity of the game. The mix of single pages and spreads works well, and the overall design, with an uppercase and lowercase letter, the poem, the narrative, and the illustration, invites readers to experience the book in multiple ways. While Red Sox fans are a natural audience for this celebratory volume, there is enough information, appealingly packaged, to make this an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys the game.--Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA