Baseball season has begun and what better way to get in the mood than this first title in the Baseball Buddies series. It’s about the effort it takes to play a better game by cooperating with teammates.

Luis is new to the team this year, but Coach Joe makes him team captain to the surprise of both Luis and most of his teammates. This group is more about goofing off than playing their best. The biggest distraction is loud and obnoxious Jimmie who just wants to hit homeruns.

The third person narration flows through 13 chapters. The layout is full of illustrations and the text is easy on the eyes. Perfect for new MG readers who aren’t ready for the more intense 300 page novel.

Luis is a character you will remember with his eagerness to do well and bring this team together. Being a leader is not easy but Luis figures out how to become a great one.

Girls and boys just starting out in little league will find BUILDING A TEAM to be a welcome teammate.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: APRIL 2, 2024 PAGE COUNT: 152

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aaron Derr is a writer based just outside of Dallas, Texas. He has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing magazines and books for kids of all ages for companies such as Red Chair Press, TIME For Kids, Sports Illustrated for Kids and the Boy Scouts of America. When he’s not reading or writing, Aaron enjoys watching and playing sports with his wife and two kids. He’s learned a lot from his home team about being a good sport and building teams.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Gary LaCoste started his career over 20 years ago working on game board and toy designs for clients including Hasbro, Nickelodeon, and LEGO. About 10 years ago his focus shifted to include children’s publishing. Gary has since illustrated more than 25 books and also is a regular contributor to many kids’ magazines including Highlights, Time for Kids, Jack and Jill, and Clubhouse Jr. He lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife and daughter.

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.

It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. All you have to do is email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.