Out of the Ballpark :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review

Before he hit 400 home runs...
Before he was named
American League MVP...
Before he was AROD to
millions of fans...
He was Alex.

Just a kid who wanted to play baseball more than anything else in the world.

Baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez has drawn on his own childhood experiences to create this exciting picture book. It's the story of a boy named Alex who knows what it's like to swing at a wild pitch or have a ball bounce right between his legs. Alex is determined not to let his mistakes set him back—even if it means getting up at the crack of dawn to work on his hitting and fielding before school each day!

Full of the spirit of determination and joy in the game that put AROD in a league of his own, Out of the Ballpark is a gift from a great sports hero to every young player who dreams of becoming a star.

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Customer Reviews

A good baseball story for the younger set.

2008-06-22
A delightful book by Yankee superstar Alex Rodriguez. Who does not know the legend call AROD? Bright illustrations by Frank Morrison tell the story. What mother of a baseball enthusiast does not know the sound of a tennis ball bouncing against the indoor wall of the house? The story is good--our beloved Alex can write as well as play ball! It's inspirational, but not overly done--Alex touts sustainable effort to achieve goals. Post-story includes four pages of personal notes and a timeline of photographs. A must-have for young fans, but a genuinely good baseball story, even without knowing who the main character is.

Great book

2008-03-27
The child I bought this for loved it ! Great pictures and an easy reader for your children.

A little disappointing -- consider Jorge Posada's "Play Ball!" instead

2007-06-08
After reading Jorge Posada's excellent children's book, "Play Ball!" at least a dozen times at my four-year-old son's request, I was excited to see "Out of the Ballpark" by Alex Rodriguez, one of the great players of our time.

Although other reviewers seem to love the book, my son can barely tolerate it and will pick any other baseball book before this one. He doesn't light up like he does with Posada's book, or any of his baseball books, for that matter.

His favorites are the amazing Casey At the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888 (Caldecott Honor Book), the entertaining Casey Back at Bat, the beautifully illustrated Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth and a book that features his favorite player, Dear Ichiro.

The story felt like it was trying too hard to me and never really developed the great rhythm good children's book authors seem to find. Take note: this is a fictional story loosely based on events in A-Rod's life...a fact that isn't revealed until you've completed the story. I probably wouldn't have purchased the book had I known it was fiction.

When it comes to children's books, Posada hit a homerun. A-Rod, well, I'll give him a bloop single...and I'm giving him that for picking a decent illustrator!

Great for kids

2007-03-15
I find this a great book with some wonderful surpises inside for young boys and girls who are just getting into baseball. They can learn what it means to be part of team and it shows respect to one another. My grandson had a great time with it.

Out of the Ballpark

2007-03-10
Nicely written; very simply presented with good illustrations.

Children need to know the importance of long term goals and "practice makes perfect"...This story presents those values.

Great book for children!!!!

2007-03-10

Before he hit 400 home runs...
Before he was named
American League MVP...
Before he was AROD to
millions of fans...
He was Alex.

Just a kid who wanted to play baseball more than anything else in the world.

Out of the ball park

2007-03-09
I bought this book for my godson Gage he is 6 and he loves this book because it is about baseball.

Great story to ispire young children.

2007-03-01
For a Yankees fan like me, and for someone who works in an elementary school- this book was a great find! Alex Rodriguez shares a fictional story based on his life, teaching children the importance of working hard to achieve their dreams. Young sports fans will relate to the early morning practices, the times where your game is 'off', but best of all- to the spirit of teamwork and how it feels to finally reach your goal! The book also includes photos of Alex growing up, and his own personal message to the reading audience. Colorful illustrations, and a quick dialogue keep the children interested throughout the story. Great resource for an elementary school teacher, counselor, or librarian.