It’s Baseball Season!

The Thing Lenny Loves Most about Baseball written by Andrew Larsen

Lenny loves baseball. And not just playing baseball — he loves reading about it, too. Lenny thinks the more he knows, the better he’ll play … and he needs all the help he can get! But it’s not until he comes across some interesting information in his Big Book of Baseball Facts — Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, two of the best hitters in baseball history, failed most of the time! — that Lenny realizes his odds are pretty good! With renewed determination and lots of practice with his dad, Lenny sets out to play his very best. He knows he can be great some of the time. And maybe that will be good enough. That’s the thing Lenny loves most about baseball.

Bonaparte Plays Ball written by Margery Cuyler

Bonaparte the skeleton and his team, the Little Monsters, face the Mighty Aliens in a monster version of the World Series.

Balletball written by Erin Dionne

Nina loves ballet, not sports, so when her mother signs her up to play baseball she sulks until the coach explains how baseball and ballet can go together–and when a timely plié in the outfield saves the game she realizes that “balletball” is really not so bad after all.

Three Squeezes written by Jason Pratt

Follow a father and his son from babyhood to baseball games to graduation and beyond in this loving saga about the unbreakable bond between generations. A perfect gift, Three Squeezes is a tender, rhyming picture book that is an ode to the love between parent and child, no matter how old the child (or) parent is.

Home Base: a mother-daughter story written by Nikki Tate

In interwoven narratives, a young girl and her mother support one another as one tries out for the baseball team and the other interviews for a bricklaying job, then celebrate their success together.

Nonfiction

Baseball Science written by James Bow

Pitchers put their entire bodies into their pitches, and batters hit balls that fly toward them at 100 miles per hour. Find out how pitchers throw curveballs, learn about the training techniques and nutritional requirements of professional players, and much, much more.

Dice Baseball Game: https://dayswithgrey.com/dice-baseball-game/

Baseball themed learning activities: https://emilyslittleloves.com/summer-learning-at-home-week-2/

Baseball themed learning activities: https://daisiesanddoodles.com/baseball-themed-activities-for-kids/

Basketball: Who’s Got Game?

Baller Ina written and illustrated by Liz Casal

A rhyming picture book about Ina who is a graceful ballerina who also loves to get competitive on the basketball court.

I Got Next written and illustrated by Daria Peoples-Riley

A young basketball player receives inspiration from a surprising place and joins the competition ready to try his best.

The Legend of Gravity: a tall basketball tale written and illustrated by Charly Palmer

Have you ever heard of Gravity? No, not gravity, the centrifugal force pulling us to the Earth. I’m talking about Gravity–the greatest ball player to ever lace up a pair of sneakers.

I Have a Superpower written by Stephen Curry

A young child learns that he does not have to be the strongest, fastest, or jump the highest, but as long as he has determination and heart any goal is achievable.

H.O.R.S.E.: a game of basketball and imagination written by Christopher Myers

One day at the basketball court, two kids, a familiar challenge–H.O.R.S.E.? But this isn’t your grandmother’s game of hoops. Not when a layup from the other side of the court, standing on one foot, with your eyes closed is just the warm-up. Around the neighborhood, around the world, off Saturn’s rings . . . the pair goes back and forth. The game is as much about skill as it is about imagination.

Non-Fiction

Basketball: amazing but true stories! Written by Derrick Barnes

A middle-grade celebration of the unheralded people and stories that helped shape the game of basketball, from unsung pioneers to unforgettable moments of the game.

Basketball written by Cathleen Small

Playing sports is as much a mental game as it is a physical one, and this entry in the Mind vs. Muscle: The Psychology of Sports series (6 titles) describes how important sports psychologists are in helping basketball players develop the mental toughness to win. They teach goal setting and affirmations, which help athletes perform effectively as a team. The book covers basketball basics, overall team strength, the role of the coach, and the mental strategies, such as visualization, that players use to psych themselves up for game day.

Girls Play Basketball written by Amy B. Rogers

How can a girl go from playing basketball in gym class to becoming a WNBA superstar? The journey starts by learning as much as possible about the sport of basketball. Through manageable text, a detailed graphic organizer, and fun fact boxes, readers explore basketball basics. They also discover stories of some of the most famous women to ever play the game.

It’s a Numbers Game: basketball written by James Buckley Jr.

Why do NBA players only have 24 seconds to score a basket? What’s the geometry behind making the perfect shot? Become a basketball pro and learn all about the numbers and math behind this popular sport.

Numbers are everywhere in basketball–from the dimensions of the court to the points you can score to the digits on each player’s jersey. In this awesome new book, you’ll learn how these numbers make basketball the game we know and love today, and also get a few tips along the way on how to improve your game.

DIY Basketball Game: https://meaningfulmama.com/day-153-diy-basketball-game.html

Basketball crafts and activities: https://www.redtedart.com/basketball-crafts-for-kids/

Basketball Cup and Ball Craft: https://exploringdomesticity.com/basketball-cup-and-ball-craft/

DIY Ping Pong Basketball game: https://www.504main.com/2015/09/diy-ping-pong-basketball-game.html