Smarty Marty's Got Game

Gr 1–4—Smarty Marty and her brother, Mikey, have tickets to the baseball game against their hometown team's biggest rivals. But Mikey isn't really a fan, especially when comparing baseball to video games. Lucky for him, his sister is the perfect companion to give him an appreciation for it, from keeping score to chowing down on snacks to walk-off home runs. Smarty Marty learned everything she knows about baseball from her great grandmother, and the narrative effectively captures the way families share both the love of a sport and of a particular team. The author capably weaves a substantial amount of basic information about baseball throughout, making this picture book a useful tool for families or caregivers looking to introduce children to the sport or prepare them for their first game. The kids' narrative occasionally takes a backseat to this background material, but McCauley's visually engaging cartoon layouts, unique perspectives, and overlayed frames capture the excitement of watching a live game. The vibrant color scheme largely emphasizes purples, greens, and oranges, with plenty of contrasting black and white accents. Back matter includes a biographical author note and tips for keeping score.—Ted McCoy, Oakland Public Library, CA