Boston Public Library
Great Stories for Sports Fans
For Middle Readers (grades 3-5)

Booklists for Kids


Adler, David A. JEFFREY'S GHOST AND THE LEFTOVER BASEBALL TEAM.
When Jeffrey moves into a new house, he makes friends with a baseball-playing ghost named Bradford.

Cohen, Barbara. THANK YOU, JACKIE ROBINSON.
An all-consuming love for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson unites a young boy and an old man in the 1940s.

Giff, Patricia Reilly. LEFT-HANDED SHORTSTOP.
Walt doesn't find out that lefties cannot play shortstop until he has already agreed to play that vital position in an important baseball game between the fourth and fifth grades.

Greenberg, Daniel. THE MISSING CHAMPIONSHIP RING.
Andy and his friends suspect foul play when his prized championship ring disappears during a game.

Hurwitz, Johanna. BASEBALL FEVER.
Ezra searches for a way to make his father understand his obsession with baseball.

Myers, Walter Dean. MOP, MOONDANCE, AND THE NAGASAKI KNIGHTS.
Mop, Moondance and T.J. are excited at the prospect of winning a trip to play baseball in Japan but worry that their team will never be able to beat their rival, the Eagles.

Park, Barbara. SKINNYBONES.
Poor Alex Frankovitch gets into trouble when his big mouth challenges the best ballplayer in his class to a pitching contest.

Slote, Alfred. FINDING BUCK McHENRY.
Thinking that the custodian is a famous ballplayer from the old Negro leagues, Jason tries to convince him to coach his little league team.

Smith, Robert Kimmel. BOBBY BASEBALL.
Bobby "Baseball" Ellis doesn't realize the trouble he's in for when he convinces his father to let him play on the team.

Van Leeuwen, Jean. BENJY THE FOOTBALL HERO.
Even though he is small, Benjy finds a way to be a football hero.


Compiled by Margaret McAteer, Charlestown Branch, Boston Public Library, September 1995.