Looking for baseball chapter books that your child will love? Check out our top selection, perfect for kids who love baseball!
It’s baseball season in Boston! That can only mean checking the schedule to see when the Red Sox home games are because traffic is brutal in the Fenway on game days.
My kids chuckle to see adults pouring off the subway decked out in Red Sox gear, happy and giddy as kids on their way to a game. But that’s the beauty of baseball games. It makes everyone young again.
Win, lose, or draw, you can always count on the food at Fenway Park and hearing Sweet Caroline at the seventh-inning stretch. The history of the stadium will seep in to give you an experience that says a perfect Boston day!
How about you? Who are you rooting for?
p.s. Red Sox fans might like photographs by my friend Sharon Schindler. Her Fenway Park photos are extremely popular around these parts.
Top 29 Baseball Chapter Books for Kids
Camp Average by Craig Battle
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This is really more of a book about baseball than camp, but it covers both well. It’s funny, and lighthearted, but even manages to throw in a few life lessons. Definitely purchasing.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi
“Riveting. Rewarding. THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER reaches the heart the way Alex Rodriguez reaches the bleachers.” – Bill Madden, New York Daily News
17-year-old Mickey Tussler has a golden arm so when Arthur Murphy discovers the boy he is certain he has found his next ace. But Mickey’s Asperger’s poses a real challenge for everyone now that the boy has become a minor league baseball celebrity.
Wonderful lessons in tolerance, love, and friendship. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John Ritter
This novel goes beyond the usual baseball story. It introduces the deeper issue of big developers encroaching upon nature and small-town life in rural California. Baseball is used here again to teach larger issues. Excellent characters. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggot
An unexpected baseball chapter book that combines time travel fantasy with the Red Sox curse. Such a beautifully written book draws the reader into this adventure. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
The Pitcher by William Hazelgrove
Ricky Hernandez, 13, can hurl a 75-miles-per-hour fastball but has trouble controlling it. He also has trouble with life as a kid being raised by a single mother who is suffering from lupus. Ricky also battles bullies over his Mexican heritage. Story of hope and determination. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
New Kid by Tim Green
Tommy’s the new kid in town like he’s been so many times before. He’s having a hard time fitting in, especially when his new friend is the bully from the wrong side of the tracks. Great story about peer pressure and finding one’s way. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
Brooklyn Bat Boy: A Story of the 1947 Season That Changed Baseball Forever by Geoff Griffin
Bobby Kelly was the batboy for the Brooklyn Dodgers the year that they signed Jackie Robinson. His job is to help Jackie, the same as the other players, and he has to accept the idea of having an African-American play for his beloved team.
As he gets to know Jackie, though, he grows to respect him, as a player, and as a person. The first season is a pivotal one for the Dodgers. Bobby begins to realize the uphill fight that Jackie Robinson faces, from the taunting in the stands to the death threats.
This is a perfect chapter book for kids who love baseball and are learning about The Civil Rights Movement. History has never felt so real! [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard
Everybody loves an underdog story. One Shot at Forever provides all of the nail-biting excitement characteristics of the David and Goliath tales of the sports world. Uplifting. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker
Baseball is a wonderful metaphor for life in this thought-provoking testimonial to friendship and parental love. Great action and message. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta
Imagine living in a small rural town where it rains every single day. This weather condition comes from a Native American curse two decades ago when a baseball rivalry with a neighboring town went wrong.
Roy can deal with the weather but when he returns from baseball camp, he finds a foster kid on his living room couch. This is the summer when things change: Roy’s relationship with his dad, a rematch with that rival town, and a remarkable new weather pattern.
Is baseball really the secret to fixing everything that is wrong? [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
Dan Unmasked by Chris Negron
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“I am not really a fan of baseball OR of superheroes, but my students ARE, and this was the perfect amalgamation of both. Alternating those two interests helped the story move along. The wishful thinking exhibited by Dan is so typical of middle school students, and his dedication to helping his friend, even though there was really nothing he could do, was touching. I adored the food inspector’s mother and all of her warnings about different restaurants, and the subplot with the father’s work keeping him busy was surprisingly touching. George Sanderson’s story added an intriguing and darker layer to this as well. This was a somewhat unusual story, and the writing was strong.”
A second review by Randomly Reading here. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball’s Negro Leagues by Leah Henderson, illustrated by George Doutsiopoulos
I didn’t know that women played in the Negro Baseball League. Mamie “Peanut” Johnson was a gifted baseball player, and she could convince any doubter with her pitching arm.
As a child, the Long Branch Police Athletic League was all-white and male, but they made a place for her because she helped her team win two championships. When Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, it opened up an opportunity for Mamie indirectly.
She thought the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League would follow suit, but they didn’t allow blacks to play. Baseball greats Willie Mays and Satchel Paige from the Negro League moved to Major League Baseball, taking their star power with them.
Ticket sales for the Negro Baseball League suffered. Mamie and two female players who drew crowds were recruited for their baseball skills and for their ability to draw a crowd. This is a fascinating look at a baseball pioneer and hidden figure. [advanced picture book biography, ages 8 and up]
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya, illustrated by Miguel Diaz Rivas
Review from A Kid’s Book A Day:
“Elena is an excellent baseball player, the only girl on the boys’ team, with a mother whose support borders on helicopter parenting. When Elena hurts her knee at the beginning of the summer, she’s a bit relieved to have to give up her planned baseball clinic, but she soon realizes that she has no friends outside of baseball. With nothing else to do, she starts hanging out with her younger brother and his live-action role-playing (LARP) pals. Elena’s kind of forgotten how to use her imagination and have fun, but the other kids talk her through it, and before long she’s not only figured out a way to combine baseball and LARP, but she’s met a couple of sporty girls her age who have learned how to strike a balance between athletic competition and fun. Their example helps Elena find the courage to talk to her mom, who reveals how her own early disappointments have fueled her passion for Elena’s baseball playing and agrees to let Elena have more autonomy over her own life.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“It’s always good to see girls in sports, and the dynamics of a team sport are even more interesting. Add some historical information about baseball, and this is a book that will be very popular. This is also on trend with dealing with a number of racial issues, and again, bringing in issues from the past helps to highlight how far our society has NOT come.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Josie Bloom and the Emergency of Life by Susan Hill Long
“Josie Bloom is put to the test when she’s confronted by mysterious wads of money, a washed-up baseball player, and a whole lot of squirrels in this hilarious and heartwarming novel in the spirit of Kate DiCamillo’s Raymie Nightingale.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
No Cream Puffs by Karen Day
“Madison is not your average 12-year-old girl from Michigan in 1980. She doesn’t use lipgloss, but she loves to play sports and joins baseball for the summer—the first girl in Southern Michigan to play on a boys’ team. The press calls her a star and a trailblazer, but Madison just wants to play ball. Who knew it would be so much pressure? Crowds flock to the games. Her team will win the championship—if she can keep up her pitching streak. Meanwhile, she’s got a crush on a fellow player, her best friend abandons her for the popular girls, the “O” on her Hinton’s uniform forms a bulls-eye over her left breast, and the boy she punched on the last day of school plans to bean her in the championship game.”
King of the Bench: No Fear by Steve Moore
This is a funny book for fans of the Wimpy Kid series. Steve is used to being on the bench for all the sports he plays. He becomes fearful of even getting into the game because of a beanball to another player. Been there. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Magic Tree House: A Big Day for Baseball by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Tree House: A Big Day for BaseballI can’t express how much I love the Magic Tree House series. But Time Travel AND baseball? I’m in. In this one, Jack and Annie get to travel to 1947, Brooklyn, (My hometown!) and see Jackie Robinson play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
I grew up hearing my grandmother telling me stories about the Dodgers in Brooklyn, so I love this. [chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages
Set in 1957, Katy is the best pitcher in the neighborhood, but girls aren’t allowed to play in Little League. Katy sets out to fight for her right to play the sport she loves, as well as learn about other women who played baseball before her. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Golden Arm by Carl Deuker
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“Deuker always writes such intricately deep sports stories, and this one is excellent. Laz’s life in the trailer park, trying to make ends meet, is a compelling story without the sports, but his drive to make a career out of his talent will appeal to young readers even more. There’s never any certainty about what might happen next– I was definitely kept on the edge of my seat reading this one. We see just enough of Antonio’s life to be worried about him, and to know how much Laz cares about him, so that it’s not a surprise that he goes to his aid. The culture shock of going to Laurelhurst is handled well, and the details of being scouted are realistic but not overly hopeful. The light romance, as well as a side story with a local reporter, adds even more depth.” [young adult, ages 12 and up]
Freaked Out at Wrigley Field by Roger D. Hess
Wrigley Field! Hawk and his brothers, Nestor and Michael have never set foot in a major league stadium. So, when their mom arranges for her rough-and-tumble boys to travel to see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, it’s a dream come true.
The plan is simple: Meet up with their eccentric, old Uncle Dave at the bus station in Chicago. Go to the game. Somehow, the simple plan blows up, and the dream adventure turns into their worst nightmare! [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Ball Park Mysteries by David A. Kelly
This series is a staple for second and third graders. It has all the elements to get new independent readers excited: mystery, intrigue, and baseball! You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this series but it might turn you into a baseball fan!
Try this series for fans of A to Z Mysteries, Boxcar Children, and Bailey School Kids. [chapter book series, ages 6 and up]
Let the Monster Out by Chad Lucas
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“While there has been an increase in the number of books centering inner-city children of color, there aren’t as many set in the suburbs. Seeing Bones struggling with being Black in a predominately white community adds another layer of interest, and it was good that people (other than his babysitter and her son) seemed to be welcoming. The inclusion of baseball details will make this appealing to more readers. I especially liked that Marcus was a great kid who was kind to Bones and Kyle and included them in his plans. This has sort of a Twilight Zone vibe to it, and was a solid science fiction tale with enough elements to root it to the real world so that readers who don’t read a lot of sci-fi can easily pick it up.” [middle grade, ages 10 and up]
More Baseball Book Lists
- Top 10: Baseball Early Chapter Books for Reluctant Readers
- Great Books for Reluctant Readers by Author David A. Kelly (of the Ballpark Mystery series)
- My List of Lists: Sports Specific Book Lists for Kids (which includes baseball, basketball, hockey, martial arts, and dance — yes, dance is a sport!)
More Great Baseball Books for Kids
A Kids’ Guide to the National Baseball Hall of Fame: The Greatest Players from Hank Aaron to Derek Jeter to Cy Young by James Buckley Jr.
Out of the Park!: True Stories of the Great Players Who Changed the Game by James Buckley Jr.
Baseball fans who like the Guinness Book of World Records will love this interesting and well-designed book featuring the Baseball Hall of Fame players from the past and present. Each player is featured in a spread with a photograph on one side and an in-depth biography on the other. [nonfiction chapter book, ages 7 and up]
Baseball Around the World: How the World Plays the Game by Chris Singleton and Dean Burrell
Baseball fans, young and old, will appreciate how America’s national pastime has become a popular sport around the world. Cuba, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Japan, South Korea, and Australia all enjoy baseball, and details of how the game arrived in each country are chronicled, as well as what it looks like today. This is a well-designed book with engaging stories and facts. [nonfiction picture book, ages 7 and up]
The Hurricanes of Weakerville by Chris Rylander
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“I loved the Iowa setting since I have family in towns about the size of Weakerville (Hello, Denison, Iowa!), and the depiction was spot on with chain stores taking local business and economic downturns affecting the population. While it was a bit of a stretch to put Alex in charge, it was done realistically, and he does have support, and Tex oversees things a bit. His friend Slips, who is from Poland, doesn’t much care for baseball but does an excellent job supporting his friend, and it’s good to see Aliyah bringing her skills to help as well. There’s lots of baseball for those who want play-by-plays, and just enough history to add depth to the story. Alex’s father’s love of barbecue is a running joke, and it’s interesting that he wasn’t as interested in baseball. Ira’s death is handled in a middle-grade-appropriate way, and Alex’s handling of it seemed realistic. Slips is worried that Alex is bottling things up, but he’s really just channeling his grief into the Hurricanes. This was a humorous and innovative baseball story.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Baseball Around the World: How the World Plays the Game by Chris Singleton and Dean Burrell
All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Cannady Chapman
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“In this picture book biography, we see young Larry Doby follow a typical course of life for his time period; growing up in the segregated South but still playing sports with all manner of neighborhood children, having to join the Navy, and playing in the Negro Leagues before being signed by the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) eleven weeks after Jackie Robinson was the first Black player in the major leagues. Doby faced much of the same prejudice and discrimination that Robinson did but persevered. The last team to finally sign a Black player did so in 1959. There were still issues, but Doby did get to experience a number of “firsts” to take some of the stings out of being the “second”. Notes, a photograph, and a selected bibliography round out the book. Vernick has baseball chops (2014’s Screaming at the Ump), and Chapman’s illustrations have a charming, 1950’s reading textbook feel to them, and are heavy on red, blue, and sand colors. (TO be clear, I love the 1950s reading textbooks!) This is a great addition to a collection of sports picture books or picture books about pioneers in the area of Civil Rights.” [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]
Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty-five years. His debut novel, ECHOES FROM THE INFANTRY, received national attention, including MWSA’s silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story “A Mile in His Shoes” starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Nappi continues to produce quality work, including SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, the intriguing sequel to the much-heralded original story, and the thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. The third installment of Nappi’s Mickey Tussler series, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, was released in April 2016. He is currently at work on his next thriller, AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE. Nappi lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.
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p.s. Related posts:
Sports-Specific Book Lists for Kids
#OwnVoices Diversity Track and Field Books for Kids
Sports Books for Kids: Volleyball!
A Unit to Learn About the Tokyo Olympics
My Son Boxing: Then and Now & Boxing Picture Books
#OwnVoices Diversity Soccer Books for Kids
Top 10: Best Baseball Chapter Books
March Madness: Basketball Books for Girls and Boys, Ages 4 and Up
Poetry in Sports Books for Kids
Hockey Books for 3rd Grade
Martial Arts Match Up: Books with Martial Art
Top 10: Multicultural Dance Picture Books
Jason Reynolds’ Track Series and Best Series Award
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
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We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
My son would love these books, he is obsessed with everything baseball. He reads baseball, plays baseball, and watches baseball every chance he gets.
Hi Denise,
Thanks so much for entering! I hope you win so your son can read this baseball book! I think it’s so great when a child’s interest gets him reading!
LOVE the Red Sox! My boys are both baseball players and my oldest plays on a travel team all summer! We play baseball from April/May until about a week before school starts in August!
Hi Ann,
I hope your boys like this book! Thanks so much for entering!
I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, The New York Mets, of course.
Hi Barbara Ann,
Good choice! My friend in college from Queens is also a huge Mets fan too!
We root for our hometown boys, the SF Giants!!!
Hi Kristen,
Yay! My husband’s hometown team too!