Official Review: A Ball's Game by Stefan Mathis

[ALynnPowers]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Ball's Game" by Stefan Mathis.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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A Ball’s Game is a children’s book by Stefan Mathis that tells about the life of the Rawlings Official Major League Baseball (or ROMLB for short) named Bennie. Told from the baseball’s point of view, Bennie describes how he is made and packaged in Costa Rica before arriving in the United States to be an official baseball during a home game of the Tampa Bay Rays. He explains the different ways that someone can obtain a coveted and valuable ROMLB.

When it’s game time against the Toronto Blue Jays, Bennie describes the fate of the his baseball friends that are used during the game. Every baseball wants to be taken home, rather than being put in the bucket for batting practice. Will Bennie be able to do his job at helping the Tampa Bay Rays win the game? Where will he end up after the game?

The unique narrator is what stands out most of all about this book. Personification of a common object is always fun, and kids would be quick to find entertainment in following along with Bennie and his brief adventure from Costa Rica into a Major League Baseball game.

Although the book is fiction, it definitely contains a lot of nonfiction elements. In this manner, it is informative and educational as well as entertaining. I’ve been a casual MLB fan throughout my life (don’t tell Bennie, but I would probably be cheering for Toronto over Tampa!), and there was definitely information that I didn’t know about. There are a handful of statistics and calculations in the book (to demonstrate how long it takes to manufacture all of the balls produced in one year, for instance), which are explained pretty clearly, but I could see some kids getting a little overwhelmed with seeing the math of such large numbers. However, if you are looking for examples of how math is useful in other topics of interest, this would be a good resource.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and I am sure that there are children out there who would enjoy it as well. It is a well-written story with only one typo that I found throughout the whole book. While the writing and storyline are nicely done, I do think that the overall presentation of the book would benefit from a makeover. There are some graphics and illustrations within the book, but they come across as merely stock images and nothing specially made for this book. This would be a great book to use graphics/illustrations to highlight or enhance the story. If this book were presented in the style of something similar to Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliot, for example, it would be so much more fun and way less overwhelming, especially during the nonfiction portions that might scare away younger readers.

Overall, I give A Ball’s Game a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed the unique narrator and the educational information about the life of a ROMLB. With some enhancements to the presentation of the book, specifically with more personalized illustrations specific to the story, I think more kids would be willing to pick up this book and give it a try. It was professionally edited and contains no profanity or scenes of a graphic nature.

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A Ball's Game
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[RHD]

This one seems different. Looks like something kids would enjoy reading. Thank you for your detailed review

[Unique Ego]

I've heard many sports-related stories but never one from the perspective of the sports equipment, in this case, Bennie, the baseball. The fact that Bennie also tells how he is made sounds like this book tends to do more than entertain, but to teach kids as well. I like that.

[Ada Ling]

I am not after baseball. It is a unique way to put a children book together. Thank you for introducing this book.