A young boy is learning to play baseball. He and readers learn lessons of sportsmanship and teamwork. Good for those interested in baseball from PreK - 2nd grade.

I am always looking for more sports themed book for my class and this one is such a cute one. Not too many baseball books are out there for this age range that are actually a good story too and this was one!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This is a cute book for any kid who loves baseball or any parent (or even teacher) wanting to teach their child about the game. Love the story and the pictures. Just too bad the team is the Giants, and not the Brewers. :)

Definitely would recommend!

Time to Play Baseball, part of the Sports Illustrated Kids: Time for Sports series, is written by editor Nick Healy and illustrated by Leo Aquino. Recommended for children ages 4 to 7 and set for release on August 1, 2025, this vibrant picture book offers a fun and engaging introduction to America’s favorite pastime.

The story is an excellent entry point for young readers who are just beginning to explore the world of sports. It introduces key baseball terminology in an accessible and age-appropriate way, making it ideal for beginners. Beyond the basics of the game, the story delivers valuable messages about teamwork, perseverance, and good sportsmanship—essential lessons for any young athlete.

Leo Aquino’s illustrations are bold and energetic, perfectly capturing the excitement and motion of the game. The action-packed scenes and bright color palette are sure to grab the attention of young readers and keep them engaged from start to finish.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a great choice for families, educators, and coaches looking to foster a love of sports while reinforcing positive values. Whether your child is stepping onto the field for the first time or just learning the rules, Time to Play Baseball offers an encouraging and entertaining experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute little book that is perfect for small children that love baseball! I let my son read it and he enjoyed all parts of it.

This was a very cute book about baseball. It has great illustrations and is perfect for little tballers and coachpitch players. It shows the importance of teamwork and how cheering on your teammates is key. I think any little sports lover would like this book. Thank you to Capstone and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a cute little baseball book about not giving up! I read it to my baseball loving 3yo and he enjoyed it too.

Time to Play Baseball! is the perfect book for a child to read before he decides to take up the sport. It's realistic and encouraging, focusing on teamwork and perseverance. As a parent of children who played sports I thought the illustrations and text were a home run!

MY BASEBALL-LOVING LITILE BOY WANTED THIS READ TO HIM 5 TIMES TONIGHT BEFORE BED, SO I THINK THAT EQUALS 5 STARS.
I LOVE HOW THIS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF
TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION DESPITE DISAPPOINTMENT.
I ALSO APPRECIATED THE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT.
ILL BE PREORDERING THIS FOR MORE BASEBALL BEDTIME READING SESSIONS!
Thank you!

This book was a HOME RUN with my boys! They had so much fun learning more about being a team and watching the several emotions the team went through during their game. It's the perfect book for young kids who are starting a new sport and need to learn about being part of a team! This will be a favorite in my household during baseball season.

Thanks for the gifted ARC Capstone Editons and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was a really cute, well-illustrated book that would be great for T-Ballers. I really enjoyed that it covered cheering for your teammates and being good sports at the end of the game! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read

My son has joined baseball training since he was 2,5 years old. He is now 4 years old and still loves playing baseball. This book is so relatable for both of us because although it's only my son who plays, I learned so much about baseball to be able to talk and bound with my son.

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Back in center field, not much happens for a while. Only some gnats and a bumblebee keep me alert.

- Time to Play Baseball! (Sports Illustrated Kids: Time for Spo..., 58.00%

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My son and I laughed so hard when we read this part because it was so dang true. There were always so many bees, flies, butterflies, and other flying insects in baseball field. And they were so aggressive, they didn't hesitate to chase people.

I love this kind of children's books. The ones that relatable in our lives. The ones that could tighten the bounding between me and my son.
Thank you to Nick Healy, Capstone Publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a great book for those learning to read. The sentences are easy to understand, the words uses are simple, and the storyline is easy to follow, especially from the context clues in the illustrations.

I did feel there was a little disconnect. Jumping back and forth between offense and defense, especially from where the narrator missed his first catch to where he was up to bat again felt strange. Almost like a sentence was missing, giving closure to the narrator being in the outfield. The illustrations were fun and the description on the first page of putting on the new uniform, was a great way to start the book.

Both of my boys play baseball and enjoyed this book. My 5 year old recognized a handful of words within in the book. Overall, a good early reader book.

I wasn't sure what to expect from what appeared to be a very basic book about baseball but I'm happy to say this exceeded my expectations. Though it is a story, there's a lot of quality non-fiction information included which could be so helpful for anyone learning about baseball. My six year old is in his first baseball season and we found this informative and fun to read. There are not only practical elements of the game included (ex. three strikes, you're out) but also social-emotional learning components. For example, the main character strikes out when he's up to bat and goes back to the bench feeling sad about it when another male teammate comforts him. These seems simple but this positive portrayal of boyhood and emotions is so deeply appreciated. There are also great examples of sportsmanship and coaching, including where the boy gets out and thinks the coach will yell at him but instead the coach says "good hustle!" This would be a great read for anyone wanting to learn about baseball and would be a good fit for students K-3. Five stars! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Such a cute book that spells out the basics of a baseball game. A fun story that emphasizes the importance of team play and leaning into what you are best at.

This is a Sports Illustrated book so of course the way the sports play is described as a spot on. It’s one of the better picture books about baseball. I like how it’s told as a story and it isn’t all about the mechanics of baseball and that makes it more of the fun. I think this book will see heavy rotations in Library.

This Story is a Childrens book about the first baseball game of the season for these little league-rs. The Main character #3 has some tough times. But the team and coach rally to cheer him up and to try to succeed. This was a great little story for kids who are interested in baseball but the principles here that it teaches could also be applied to other sports or tasks. I feel that kids will enjoy this Children's book. Older folks might also think its cute and a change of pace from other reading like I did .

Thank you to Nick Healy and to the publisher for allowing me to read this Advanced Copy.

The thing I appreciated the most about Time to Play Baseball was the lesson that it is okay to make mistakes. Too often we forget how to have fun in a competitive setting and this is a story that should be told more

My brother is currently coaching my 5 year old nephew's little league team so I thought this would be a fun book for them to read together. The illustrations are delightful and it reads easily. It's full of baseball-specific lingo which I think would be great for someone like my brother to teach my nephew. But if there are any parents who aren't familiar with baseball terminology, it might go over their heads.

Thank you to NetGalley, Capstone, and Nick Healy for the eARC of this children's book!

This is a good intro into young child baseball leagues. It helps with what to expect during a baseball game, teaching children that it is OK to make mistakes.