Out of the Ballpark
Grade 1-3&ndash;This picture book by a New York Yankees' star features the familiar story of a young boy who achieves his ballpark dreams through hard work and determination. His team is in the playoffs, but he is having a terrible game. The Caribes win, nonetheless, and they're on their way to the championship. Alex, however, wants to improve, and practices constantly with a friend (even going so far as to get up at 5:00 a.m. to practice before school). Young Alex is a likable protagonist who's also playing for his friends and family in the stands. Morrison's action-packed illustrations, in vivid hues, help keep the story moving at a brisk pace. Rodriguez concludes with a note that includes his credo for success: No matter what your dreams and goals, you can never go wrong if you give them all you've got. The scrapbook of photos from his youth, including pictures of his family and friends, is nicely done. This book's appeal will lie mainly with young fans of the Yankee athlete.&ndash;Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CACopyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.