Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries Baseball edition This guide has been developed to help teachers, librarians and parents find high-interest nonfiction books that gradually increase in text complexity.

1. BASEBALL: a collection of books increasing in text complexity
Baseball is Fun!!
by Robin Nelson !
Lerner, 2014!
Lexile 400 / F&P H!
This simple text for very beginning readers introduces basic baseball concepts,
and it includes an illustration of a baseball field, a glossary, and an index. For
beginning readers, the CCSS emphasize reading informational texts appropriate
for their grade level (R.I. 1.10, R.I. 2.10). That means the library having a batting
order with non-fiction options at different levels of complexity, all of them heavy
hitters that will engage and interest readers.!
!
Cool Baseball Facts!
by Kathryn Clay!
Capstone, 2011!
Lexile 620 / F&P L!
For beginning readers who already understand the fundamentals of
baseball, this title with interesting tidbits and trivia will match interest with
reading level.!
Becoming Babe Ruth!
by Matt Tavares!
Candlewick, 2013!
Lexile 720!
!
There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever
Lived!
by Matt Tavares!
Candlewick, 2012!
Lexile 810 / F&P R!
Both of these books are engaging, make excellent read alouds, and provide background
information about these players that some may not know. In addition to having students ask and
answer questions and retell key details from the books, you can also have students focus on
identifying similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (R.I.1.9). Since
the books are by the same author/illustrator, and written in similar style, it allows students to
more easily make comparisons and identify differences.
Youngest readers (PreK - 1st grade)
The Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries has been developed by Mary Ann Scheuer (Great Kid
Books), Amy Koester (The Show Me Librarian), Alyson Beecher (Kid Lit Frenzy), and Cathy Potter &
Louise Capizzo (The Nonfiction Detectives) — May 2014
Read alouds (1st - 4th grade)

2. Baseball (On the Team)!
by Mason Burdock!
Gareth Stevens, 2012!
Lexile 550 / F&P L!
Higher-level beginning readers will enjoy this in-depth exploration of baseball,
its history, and playing basics. Includes interesting text features called "The
Coach's Corner," which share additional details.!
Miguel Cabrera: Baseball Superstar!
by Matt Doeden!
Sports Illustrated Kids / Capstone, 2014!
Lexile 720 / F&P M!
This biography of superstar hitter Miguel Cabrera appeals to kids with its striking
photographs, bold headings, and large font. In 2012, Cabrera won the first Triple
Crown in the majors since 1967, leading the league in batting average, home
runs and RBIs in the same season. Third graders must understand how this
writing style hooks readers and how the individual events fit together to create a whole picture of
Cabrera's life (R.I. 3.3).!
!
Play Baseball Like a Pro: Key Skills and Tips!
by Hans Hetrick!
Sports Illustrated for Kids / Capstone, 2011!
Lexile 720 / F&P S!
Hetrick balances simple direct text with enough information to make this
guide interesting for 8- to 10-year-olds, but not overwhelming. He clearly
states a main idea and then develops it with a short explanation. Baseball
fans will be able to see so much more easily what teachers mean by "main
idea" and "supporting details" if they are reading a book like this (R.I. 4.2).!
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball!
by Kadir Nelson!
Jump at the Sun / Hyperion, 2008!
Lexile 900 / AR 5.9!
In this large-format informational book, Nelson describes the formation of the
Negro League and how it provided those with a passion and talent for baseball
with a venue to play. Middle grade readers will immediately be drawn into the
story as the narrator looks back upon his days in the Negro Leagues. Teachers
could ask students in sixth grade to determine the author's point of view or
purpose and "explain how it is conveyed" in the book (R.I. 6.6). Teachers could
also ask students to identify the central idea of the narrative and "how it is conveyed through
particular details" (R.I. 6.2).
Transitioning readers (1st - 3rd grade)
Middle grade readers (3rd - 4th grade)
Upper elementary grade readers (5th - 6th grade)
The Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries has been developed by Mary Ann Scheuer (Great Kid
Books), Amy Koester (The Show Me Librarian), Alyson Beecher (Kid Lit Frenzy), and Cathy Potter &
Louise Capizzo (The Nonfiction Detectives) — May 2014