BASEBALL: a collection of books increasing in text complexity

Baseball is Fun!!by Robin Nelson !Lerner, 2014!Lexile 400 / F&P H!This simple text for very beginning readers introduces basic baseball concepts, and it includes an illustration of a baseball field, a glossary, and an index. For beginning readers, the CCSS emphasize reading informational texts appropriate for their grade level (R.I. 1.10, R.I. 2.10). That means the library having a batting order with non-fiction options at different levels of complexity, all of them heavy hitters that will engage and interest readers.!!

Cool Baseball Facts!by Kathryn Clay!Capstone, 2011!Lexile 620 / F&P L!For beginning readers who already understand the fundamentals of baseball, this title with interesting tidbits and trivia will match interest with reading level.!

Becoming Babe Ruth!by Matt Tavares!Candlewick, 2013!Lexile 720!!There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived!by Matt Tavares!Candlewick, 2012!Lexile 810 / F&P R!Both of these books are engaging, make excellent read alouds, and provide background information about these players that some may not know. In addition to having students ask and answer questions and retell key details from the books, you can also have students focus on identifying similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (R.I.1.9). Since the books are by the same author/illustrator, and written in similar style, it allows students to more easily make comparisons and identify differences.

Youngest readers (PreK - 1st grade)

The Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries has been developed by Mary Ann Scheuer (Great Kid Books), Amy Koester (The Show Me Librarian), Alyson Beecher (Kid Lit Frenzy), and Cathy Potter &

Louise Capizzo (The Nonfiction Detectives) — May 2014

Read alouds (1st - 4th grade)

Baseball (On the Team)!by Mason Burdock!Gareth Stevens, 2012!Lexile 550 / F&P L!Higher-level beginning readers will enjoy this in-depth exploration of baseball, its history, and playing basics. Includes interesting text features called "The Coach's Corner," which share additional details.!

Miguel Cabrera: Baseball Superstar!by Matt Doeden!Sports Illustrated Kids / Capstone, 2014!Lexile 720 / F&P M!This biography of superstar hitter Miguel Cabrera appeals to kids with its striking photographs, bold headings, and large font. In 2012, Cabrera won the first Triple Crown in the majors since 1967, leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs in the same season. Third graders must understand how this

writing style hooks readers and how the individual events fit together to create a whole picture of Cabrera's life (R.I. 3.3).!!Play Baseball Like a Pro: Key Skills and Tips!by Hans Hetrick!Sports Illustrated for Kids / Capstone, 2011!Lexile 720 / F&P S!Hetrick balances simple direct text with enough information to make this guide interesting for 8- to 10-year-olds, but not overwhelming. He clearly states a main idea and then develops it with a short explanation. Baseball fans will be able to see so much more easily what teachers mean by "main idea" and "supporting details" if they are reading a book like this (R.I. 4.2).!

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball!by Kadir Nelson!Jump at the Sun / Hyperion, 2008!Lexile 900 / AR 5.9!In this large-format informational book, Nelson describes the formation of the Negro League and how it provided those with a passion and talent for baseball with a venue to play. Middle grade readers will immediately be drawn into the story as the narrator looks back upon his days in the Negro Leagues. Teachers could ask students in sixth grade to determine the author's point of view or purpose and "explain how it is conveyed" in the book (R.I. 6.6). Teachers could

also ask students to identify the central idea of the narrative and "how it is conveyed through particular details" (R.I. 6.2).

Transitioning readers (1st - 3rd grade)

Middle grade readers (3rd - 4th grade)

Upper elementary grade readers (5th - 6th grade)

The Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries has been developed by Mary Ann Scheuer (Great Kid Books), Amy Koester (The Show Me Librarian), Alyson Beecher (Kid Lit Frenzy), and Cathy Potter &

Louise Capizzo (The Nonfiction Detectives) — May 2014