A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life

Gr 2-4–This collection of familiar truisms is leavened by Renna’s breezy, relatable voice. His first rule, “always be ready,” comes from his experience as a young actor, when he had to learn lines with little time or room for error. The other 19 rules are recognizable: “keep your eye on the ball,” “be nice to the new kid,” and “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s about the journey.” The author sometimes addresses adult caregivers directly, as in “if you catch a foul ball, give it to the kid.” The dedication offers a wish that “bedtime won’t go into extra innings,” while the facing page has space to write in the names of the gift-giver and “special little slugger.” Appealing, if somewhat generic, illustrations accompany “treat your teammates with respect,” and young players and fans are depicted in a range of skin tones, gender, and abilities.