by Andrew Larsen (Author) Milan Pavlovic (Illustrator)
Andrew Larsen evokes the eternal hope and joy of all true baseball fans --- along with their love of facts --- in this heartwarming story about a baseball-loving boy who doesn't give up.
Lenny can't get enough of baseball. He loves to play. And he loves to pore over his Big Book of Baseball Facts. He wants to be in the big leagues someday, and, he figures, the more he knows, the better his chances. The only thing is, though he tries to keep his eye on the ball as it heads his way during a game, it somehow ends up by his feet. "You just need to practice," his dad tells him. So they practice. And practice. Lenny doesn't give up. And it pays off. Lenny makes a game-changing catch! Now he's proven he can be great some of the time. Which, according to the facts, makes him just like the greatest Hall of Famers, right?
In this endearing picture book, bestselling author Andrew Larsen celebrates the love of both the game of baseball and its countless facts --- which for many fans go hand in hand. It offers a strong character-building portrait of perseverance and patience at work in skill development. It also underscores the importance of letting go of the idea of perfection. With energy and emotion in equal parts, Milan Pavlovic's illustrations capture Lenny's (and baseball's) highs and lows, and his loving supportive relationship with his father.
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A good counter to the insistent, invidious message that winning is all that matters. (Picture book. 6-8)
This motivational tale ... will remind readers that improvement requires persistence.-- Publishers Weekly
... this is an inspiring example of the value of cultivating a growth mindset where practice pays off ...
Andrew Larsen is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including In the Tree House, a TD Canadian Children's Literature Award finalist; The Bagel King, one of CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens; and A Squiggly Story, a finalist for the OLA's Blue Spruce Award. He lives in Toronto with his family and their dog named Sally.
Born in Hong Kong, Dawn Lo is an illustrator currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded lands of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Her work has appeared in the picture books Snow Song and The Rainbow Garden Is My Friend, as well as in stationery, greeting cards, public art installations, murals and more! When she is not drawing at her home studio, she works at the public library where she can surround herself with more books.