Jake Plays Ball
By: Crystal Bowman
Publication: June 10, 2007 by Zonderkidz
32 pages
Genre: Children's, Early Reader, Level-2, Picture Books
Source: Personal Library
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Goodreads description--Jake’s friend Jason comes over to play with Jake and wants to play baseball. After Jason hits the ball several times, Jake wants a turn to bat. Jake keeps striking out, so Jason gets frustrated and goes home. Jake is discouraged at his inability to play baseball. Mother assures Jake that with patience, practice, and God’s help, he will learn to hit the ball too. Grandma comes over for a visit and Jake asks her to play baseball with him. Grandma has the time, patience, and encouragement Jake needs to learn how to hit the ball.
Jake Plays Ball is a Zonderkidz Level 2 reader. A friend gave us this book, and my son read it at 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. To be honest, I was a little distracted while he was reading it to me because my younger son was acting up. But I didn't notice him having any trouble with the words. It is 32 pages, which is the average page count for most level-1 and level-2 readers in my experience.
As for the content, I loved the story behind Jake Plays Ball. Jake's friend Dan comes over and wants to play baseball. Dan is good at baseball and hits the ball over Jake's head each time. When Jake takes a turn, he doesn't do well and misses the ball every time. I loved that Jake's mom tells him that God made him good at other things, and she names a few of those things. Then she goes on to tell Jake that he can be good at baseball, too, if he practices. Jake asks his grandma to play with him. She helps him, and he's able to hit the ball. I love that God is incorporated. These younger level readers don't have to be stories that are all fluff just because they are at an easier level. The stories can still incorporate God and morals. Working hard, praying for help, understanding that we are all different and have different talents given to us by God. All of those are great lessons that I want my children to learn.
Jake Plays Ball gets 5 Stars from me. If you can have a leveled reader that can help my child with reading fluency as well as present good morals, lessons, and include God then that book is a winner in my opinion. I'd recommend this book to any child reading at level-2. Have you or your child read Jake Plays Ball? What did you think? Let me know!
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