Module 6: Brothers at Bat

Summary: This is the true story of a family that had enough sons to have their very own semi-pro baseball team and so they did.  It introduces all of the brothers and tells stories of their games and accomplishments.

APA Reference: Vernick, A. (2012). Brothers at bat: The true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team. New York, NY; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Impressions: I have always heard the saying about having enough kids for a football team but I never knew that something like that had really happened.  This book is a fun book about a vey large family that had enough kids to have their own baseball team. The family loved baseball and played all of the time.  The family team becomes so good that they even play at the semi-pro level.  As all of the brothers grow up and move on with life baseball is never far behind.  I really enjoyed this story but of course my son plays baseball and I love watching him play baseball.  I can only imagine how proud their parents must have been watching their family play.  The book has great illustrations and it easy to read with not too many words on a page.  The illustrations enhance the reading and do not distract from the story.   For a reader who likes baseball this little book about a historical baseball team would be good read. 

Professional Review:

BROTHERS AT BAT

The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team

by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Steven Salerno

Age Range: 5 - 10

At a time when local baseball was part of the American landscape, one family fielded its own team.

The Acerra family numbered 16 children, 12 of whom were brothers who all loved to play baseball. The boys played in high school and later formed their own semi-pro team. They played wherever they could get a good game and were known as highly skilled players and crowd pleasers. They shared a special closeness and loyalty, joking and teasing, but always looking out for one another. That loyalty extended to a love of country as six of them fought in World War II, which was the first time they had been separated. After the war they continued to play in local leagues, with younger brothers taking over when big brothers aged out. In 1997 they were recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame as the all-time longest playing all-brother team. Employing descriptive, conversational language in a matter-of-fact tone that doesn’t sentimentalize, Vernick tells of a remarkable family, part of what has come to be known as "the greatest generation." Salerno’s lively drawings, rendered in black crayon, gouache, watercolor and pastel with digital color added, complement the action, striking a balance between detail and expansiveness.

A family’s love and devotion to each other and to the game of baseball, depicted lovingly. (author’s note; artist’s note) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

Brothers at Bat: The true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team. (2012, January 18). Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/audrey-vernick-860/brothers-bat-true-story-amazing-all-brother-baseba/

Library Uses: This book could be used as part of a lesson about families and how all families are different.