Baseball from A to Z

Vibrant scenes of ballpark action are the main draw in this alphabetical guide to the game of baseball. Spradlin's clear definitions of the various terms inform rather than excite (“The dugout is the bench area where the players sit while waiting for their turn at bat”). Pamintuan, however, playfully amplifies the vigor of the stadium. A pitcher's stance echoes the twistiness of the curveball he's about to launch, a colorful cast of mascots make goofy faces, and a closeup action scene shows a shortstop in midair trying to tag a runner sliding for the base. As an intro to baseball basics, it's at least a base hit. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)