I fell in love with Brian Lies' artwork a few years ago when I reviewed his picture book, Bats at the Library. Knowing that, the Youth Services Librarian at work brought me his most recent book, Bats at the Ballgame. If you think picture books are just for children, think again. This book is for anyone who loves baseball, bats, or a combination of them. Lies has given us another fun, gorgeous book.Humans aren't the only ones who appreciate the beauty of a baseball field, the vivid green and brown colors. When bats get the chance to go to a ballgame at night, they find it to be an awesome sight. They watch the bats prepare the field for a game, with powdered sugar for baselines and a fork to rake the mound. Vendors sell Cricket Jacks, Mothdogs and Infield Flies. During the seventh-inning stretch the crowd of bats sing their own version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Grandbats tell little bats stories of baseball games and heroes of the past. And, when they think the umpire missed a call at home, they holler the ump is blind.
Each time I review one of Lies' picture books, I wish I could share the illustrations with you. You'll just have to examine the cover illustration to realize the pictures inside are just as detailed and beautiful. Lies places bats into ordinary circumstances; the beach, the library, or a baseball game, and brings them, and the setting, to life. Bats at the Ballgame is a book to share with anyone who loves baseball, or has a sense of humor to appreciate the story of bats at at baseball game. I'm glad a librarian shared this one with me. Now, this librarian is passing it on to you.
Brian Lies' website is www.brianlies.com
Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ©2011. ISBN 9780547249704 (hardcover), 32p.
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FTC Full Disclosure - Library Book
