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A Baseball Story that Champions Uniqueness"Stitches" by Kevin Morrison Illustrated by John Nixon Review by Laura Pickford Ramirez "Stitches" is a charming baseball story that is destined to become a classic. The reasons are obvious--"Stitches" is centered around America's favorite past time--baseball--and reminds us that life is about going for our dreams. The story opens in the Middlefield Baseball Factory, where brand new balls are being inspected and sorted into two categories: those destined for sale to sporting goods stores and baseball teams and those deemed defective. In this magical baseball short story in which the balls can talk, Stitches, the protagonist, has a slight manufacturer's defect. Despite his crooked stitches, he hopes that his flaw will be overlooked, so he can go for his dream of playing in the Major Leagues. Although Stitches hopes are dashed when he ends up in the defective pile, his life takes an unexpected turn when a mailman spots him in a secondhand store and takes him home as a gift for his son. This is when Stitches quest for a purposeful life begins. After reading "Stitches" once, I read it to my sons and their friends, to gauge their interest in the book. This baseball story captivated their interest from the start and had them in stitches (sorry -- I couldn't resist!) at several points in the story. Although my audience was comprised of little leaguers who live and breathe the sport, this baseball short story is so universal that it will appeal to all. Baseball stories hold a special place in our hearts because we're all aware of the courage it takes to work toward a dream. I know this personally, as my husband was a Native American pitcher who led his team to win the College World Series in 1970. My husband's rocket arm and love for baseball made his education possible and opened many doors that would have been closed to him in the late 60's and early 70's. "Stitches" is a baseball story that beautifully illustrates this point. As a baseball, Stitches is flawed, but his imperfection is part of his uniqueness. In fact, without his defect, he might have been just an ordinary baseball. In life, flaws give us character and something to overcome. In sports, it is the athlete who rises above his shortcomings that most captures our attention. In baseball, as in life, working toward your dreams requires practice and commitment in order to prepare yourself for the opportunities that arise and quickly pass away. As a parent, this is a fundamental lesson to teach your children and a reason that sports are an inspiration to us all. Like "Stitches," the fulfillment of our destiny often takes us on unexpected paths, playing out in ways that challenge and transcend our imaginations. To search for "Stitches" or more baseball story lines, enter your search words below: Suggested Audience: 4 and up. Format: Hardcover with illustrations. Summary: A timeless baseball story for baseball fans of all ages. Buy yourself or the grown baseball fan in your life a magazine that covers sports the way they were meant to be (with many a great baseball story). Click on: ESPN The Magazine To return from Baseball Story to Children's Book Reviews, click here. To subscribe to Family Matters! Online Parenting Magazine, type in your full name and email address below or send a blank email to Subscribe to Family Matters! Parenting Magazine Sorry, we do not accept subscriptions from those who are not willing to give their full name or have a free email account.
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