Here Comes the Strikeout!

I read this book as a young man...I am not sure when but I think it was when I was 10 or 11. I was a pretty good athlete when a kid but baseball was a sport, especially the hitting, that I could not master. I have very poor spatial perception that is neurologically-based so I was at a distinct disadvantage when up at the plate to see where the ball was in space. When I read this book, it gave me hope that I could get better. The ironic part is that the book really didn't help me get better in baseball...that just was not in the cards God gave me. But, it did give me the lesson that hard work pays off, that I could get better at stuff just by sticking to it and effort. Sometimes hard work doesn't work but it sure does make a difference in most things. Thanks to the author of this book for helping me to understand this.

This children's book is masterfully written. It's main message is perseverance, but the virtues of friendship and loyalty are also embodied here by Bobby's friend, Willie, who teaches him how to hit and by his teammates who put up with his "slump". Another nice touch is the realism -- the kids on the other team unrelentingly tease Bobby about his strikeouts and the children have to interrupt the pick-up game to deal with the interference caused by a pesky dog. Bobby also receives encouraging words from his mother giving it a good family feel. My 6, 4, and 2-year-olds all love this story which is illustrated with simple drawings.

"Twenty times at bat and twenty strike outs" said Bobby. This summed up Bobbys baseball career. Bobby has no hope that he will ever be able to hit a baseball. In this book, it is spring time in bobby's neighborhood. Bobby loves to play baseball. He can run fast, slide and catch the ball. Sadly for Bobby he can not hit the ball. Kids make fun of him and call him names. bobby has a plan to get help. I enjoyed this book because of the relationship between the main characters. The sports plot and the great illustration. Bobby and Willie have a great friendship, because they care about each other. When Bobby told Willie he wanted to learn how to hit a baseball, Willie enthusiastically took the job. I thought the advice that Willie gave to Bobby was quite helpful. Willie told that being that being able to hit a baseball takes hard work and practice, not just a lucky bat or helmet. I like this book because of the colorful, bright illustrations that were on almost every page.

Nobody gets anything right the first time, except those kids you never really liked anyway. So most children will be able to relate to Bobby, and how he struck out a good 21 times in a row ... after getting some good advice (and practice) from a friend, baseball has some potential for him. Kids will be inspired to keep trying at anything they've been having trouble with in life, especially if they love it deep down and heart, and really want to succeed. Where there's a will, there's a way. Go Bobby!

This book was action packed for a young reader book. It got my son to put down the ball and read enthusiastically! He read with more excitement than I had ever heard from him. If you are having trouble getting a active young sportsman into books, give this one a try!