This post is part of a weekly series of synopses of children’s books, written by First Book staff members.

Beans Baker’s Best Shot, by Richard Torrey. During soccer practice Chester accidently injures his best friend, Beans’ leg just before the championship game. Chester thinks Beans is angry with him because of the injury and decides not to play in the championship game. True friendship saves the day and Chester helps win the game. Grades K-2.


Jackie Robinson and the Story of All Black Baseball, by Jim O’Connor, illustrated by Jim Butcher. This book tells the history of African Americans in baseball. The story begins during the height of the Negro Leagues and recounts what players had to do to draw fans into the stadium, and goes all the way to when Jackie Robinson heroically became the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Grades 3-4.


Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild. Sisters Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil were “collected” and adopted by Great Uncle Matthew, an anthropologist who has traveled around the world. As they grow up, each sister develops different talents — Pauline aspires to be an actress, Petrova has a great interest in cars and airplanes, and Posy dreams to become a truly great ballet dancer. Together the sisters vow to make their family name great as they grow up. Grades 5-6.