{"id":1952251393,"title":"Take Me Out to the Ball Game","handle":"take-me-out-to-the-ball-game","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerformer: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/carly-simon\" title=\"Carly Simon bio\"\u003eCarly Simon\u003c\/a\u003e, Lyricist: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/jack-norworth\" title=\"Jack Norworth bio\"\u003eJack Norworth\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/amiko-hirao\" title=\"Amiko Hirao bio\"\u003eAmiko Hirao\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBatter up!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGet out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and get ready for fun with America's national sport! The unofficial anthem of baseball has never sounded or looked better than it does in this joyful edition, complete with a CD featuring the inimitable Carly Simon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColorful, collage-like illustrations are kids' tickets into \"Sluggers Stadium,\" where two animal teams step up to the plate and vie for victory-all cheered on by Katie Casey, the baseball-loving cat. And what a game it is! Giraffe winds up at the pitcher's mound, hoping for a strikeout. But, with a thwack, ball meets bat and Crocodile is off and running. Can Tiger tag him out at first? He'd better, because Elephant's up next and that will cause a commotion!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpen the pages, put on the CD-which contains \"I Gave My Love a Cherry\" and \"Scarborough Fair,\" along with \"Take Me Out to the Ball Game\"-and introduce young fans to baseball.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/over-the-rainbow\" title=\"Over the Rainbow\"\u003eOver the Rainbow\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/waking-up-is-hard-to-do\" title=\"Waking Up Is Hard to Do\"\u003eWaking Up Is Hard to Do\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-night-before-christmas\" title=\"The Night Before Christmas\"\u003eThe Night Before Christmas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game-spread.jpg?9665054470046322916\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarly Simon, Performer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarly Simon is an internationally renowned singer and songwriter who has won two Grammy® Awards, as well as a Hall of Fame Grammy, an Oscar®, and a Golden Globe® Award for \"Let the River Run\" from the film Working Girl. In 1994, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/carly-simon\" title=\"Carly Simon bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Carly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJack Norworth, Lyricist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJack Norworth was an American songwriter, singer, and vaudeville performer. He is credited as being one of a collection of New York-based songwriters and lyricists that made up Tin Pan Alley in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. \"Take Me Out to the Ballgame,\" for which Jack wrote the lyrics, was his longest-lasting hit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/jack-norworth\" title=\"Jack Norworth bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Jack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmiko Hirao, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmiko Hirao earned a degree in art history in her native Japan, and later graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has illustrated four children's books, including Tulip at the Bat by J. Patrick Lewis, How the Fisherman Tricked the Genie by Christopher Sunami, and All Aboard by Mary Lyn Ray. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/amiko-hirao\" title=\"Amiko Hirao bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Amiko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIRA\/CBC Children's Choices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe song may have been written by a man who had never been to a game, and it was first sung on the vaudeville circuit of early-20th-century America, but it has long since taken its place as the venerable and beloved anthem of baseball. Of course, modern fans do not include the original verse when they sing the refrain during the seventh-inning stretch. The fact that the lyrics are about a young woman's deep love of the game would greatly surprise them. Katie Casey \"saw all the games, knew all the players by their first names.\" The song has been illustrated often, in myriad styles and techniques. Hirao creates a cast of enthusiastic animals to populate the teams and spectators at Sluggers Stadium. While the fans, including Katie the cat, are of mostly domesticated varieties, the players are alligators, giraffes, elephants, hippos and other wildlife. It's a visual tour de force, with double-page spreads of large, action-packed, brilliantly colored scenes in startlingly off-center perspective. A Carly Simon CD accompanies the book, and youngsters will have a wonderful time reading and singing along. In a charming note, Simon provides some surprising information about her connection to both the song and Jackie Robinson. Joyous fun for all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ode to Norworth's beloved anthem includes the song's little-known verses about \"Katie Casey,\" who is depicted as a baseball-obsessed cat. When Katie's \"beau\" (a white dog) asks Katie to the movies, she instead suggests a trip to the stadium. There, they root, root, root for the home team, which includes a giraffe, zebra, and elephant. Sometimes awkward phrasing and meter (\"When the score was 2-2,\/ Katie Casey, she had the clue,\/ to cheer on the boys,\/ she knew just what to do\") may explain why the verses don't have the popularity of the chorus, but fans should still enjoy Hirao's dynamic scenes of ballpark action. An included CD features Carly Simon's performance of the song and two others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt wouldn't be baseball season without a new rendition of \"Take Me Out to the Ball Game.\" This one includes a three song CD by Carly Simon, who has altered a few of the lyrics to modernize the language and added an interesting note about Jackie Robinson living with her family from 1954 to 1955. The main purpose here seems mainly to be to showcase the CD, which was originally recorded for the Ken Burns PBS program. The illustrations are vibrant and pleasing and make full use of each spread as feline Katie Casey, an avid baseball fan, spends every cent she has to go and \"root for the hometown crew.\" There is plenty of ballpark activity crammed into each scene, and the animal characters are amusing, if sometimes busy. Name recognition will raise interest in this book, mainly among adults.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Loons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is all about the vibrant illustrations of Amiko Hirao that picture a group of animals taking to the diamond for a spirited baseball game. Katie Casey, a hardball loving feline, is rooting on the home team at Sluggers Stadium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the score tied 2-2, Katie gets the crowd to sing an old classic, \u003ci\u003eTake Me Out to the Ball Game\u003c\/i\u003e, to spark the home team. Does it work? You'll have to read the book to see!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncluded with this volume is a CD that features three songs sung by Carly Simon: \u003ci\u003eI Gave My Love a Cherry\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eScarborough Fair\u003c\/i\u003e and, of course, \u003ci\u003eTake Me Out to the Ball Game\u003c\/i\u003e. What the first two songs have to do with the story line isn't clear but no matter. Ms. Simon is easy to listen to and all her music is pretty cool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe real attraction here, though, is not the text or bonus CD but the art work. It jumps right off the page and demands that you get into the swing of this spirited ball game. When elephant comes roaring down the baseline from third with the game in the balance and a play at the plate, you know there's going to be a huge roar from the stands if he is safe!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/take-me-out-to-cvr.jpg?7366137528644515996\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/take-me-out-to-hires.zip?7366137528644515996\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-93614-026-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-398-1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePage count: 26\u003cbr\u003e11 \u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e8\u003c\/sub\u003e x 10 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game-board-book\" title=\"Take Me Out to the Ball Game Board Book\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoard Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-071-5\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-08-28T14:10:00-04:00","created_at":"2015-08-28T11:03:06-04:00","vendor":"Imagine Publishing","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 0-3","Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Art\/Music\/Theater","Browse by Subject_Early Childhood","Browse by Subject_Nursery Rhymes \u0026 Songs","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play"],"price":795,"price_min":795,"price_max":1795,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":6110960385,"title":"Hardcover w\/CD","option1":"Hardcover w\/CD","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"40268","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Hardcover w\/CD","public_title":"Hardcover w\/CD","options":["Hardcover w\/CD"],"price":1795,"weight":703,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":8,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-93614-026-8","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":7059477569,"title":"Board Book","option1":"Board Book","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"40715","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Board Book","public_title":"Board Book","options":["Board Book"],"price":795,"weight":142,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-62354-071-5","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/take-me-out-to-cover.jpg?v=1574277265"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/take-me-out-to-cover.jpg?v=1574277265","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Take Me Out to the Ball Game book cover image","id":5803313332303,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.097,"height":547,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/take-me-out-to-cover.jpg?v=1574277265"},"aspect_ratio":1.097,"height":547,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/take-me-out-to-cover.jpg?v=1574277265","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerformer: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/carly-simon\" title=\"Carly Simon bio\"\u003eCarly Simon\u003c\/a\u003e, Lyricist: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/jack-norworth\" title=\"Jack Norworth bio\"\u003eJack Norworth\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/amiko-hirao\" title=\"Amiko Hirao bio\"\u003eAmiko Hirao\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBatter up!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGet out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and get ready for fun with America's national sport! The unofficial anthem of baseball has never sounded or looked better than it does in this joyful edition, complete with a CD featuring the inimitable Carly Simon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColorful, collage-like illustrations are kids' tickets into \"Sluggers Stadium,\" where two animal teams step up to the plate and vie for victory-all cheered on by Katie Casey, the baseball-loving cat. And what a game it is! Giraffe winds up at the pitcher's mound, hoping for a strikeout. But, with a thwack, ball meets bat and Crocodile is off and running. Can Tiger tag him out at first? He'd better, because Elephant's up next and that will cause a commotion!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpen the pages, put on the CD-which contains \"I Gave My Love a Cherry\" and \"Scarborough Fair,\" along with \"Take Me Out to the Ball Game\"-and introduce young fans to baseball.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/over-the-rainbow\" title=\"Over the Rainbow\"\u003eOver the Rainbow\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/waking-up-is-hard-to-do\" title=\"Waking Up Is Hard to Do\"\u003eWaking Up Is Hard to Do\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-night-before-christmas\" title=\"The Night Before Christmas\"\u003eThe Night Before Christmas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game-spread.jpg?9665054470046322916\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarly Simon, Performer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarly Simon is an internationally renowned singer and songwriter who has won two Grammy® Awards, as well as a Hall of Fame Grammy, an Oscar®, and a Golden Globe® Award for \"Let the River Run\" from the film Working Girl. In 1994, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/carly-simon\" title=\"Carly Simon bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Carly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJack Norworth, Lyricist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJack Norworth was an American songwriter, singer, and vaudeville performer. He is credited as being one of a collection of New York-based songwriters and lyricists that made up Tin Pan Alley in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. \"Take Me Out to the Ballgame,\" for which Jack wrote the lyrics, was his longest-lasting hit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/jack-norworth\" title=\"Jack Norworth bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Jack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmiko Hirao, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmiko Hirao earned a degree in art history in her native Japan, and later graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has illustrated four children's books, including Tulip at the Bat by J. Patrick Lewis, How the Fisherman Tricked the Genie by Christopher Sunami, and All Aboard by Mary Lyn Ray. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/amiko-hirao\" title=\"Amiko Hirao bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Amiko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIRA\/CBC Children's Choices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe song may have been written by a man who had never been to a game, and it was first sung on the vaudeville circuit of early-20th-century America, but it has long since taken its place as the venerable and beloved anthem of baseball. Of course, modern fans do not include the original verse when they sing the refrain during the seventh-inning stretch. The fact that the lyrics are about a young woman's deep love of the game would greatly surprise them. Katie Casey \"saw all the games, knew all the players by their first names.\" The song has been illustrated often, in myriad styles and techniques. Hirao creates a cast of enthusiastic animals to populate the teams and spectators at Sluggers Stadium. While the fans, including Katie the cat, are of mostly domesticated varieties, the players are alligators, giraffes, elephants, hippos and other wildlife. It's a visual tour de force, with double-page spreads of large, action-packed, brilliantly colored scenes in startlingly off-center perspective. A Carly Simon CD accompanies the book, and youngsters will have a wonderful time reading and singing along. In a charming note, Simon provides some surprising information about her connection to both the song and Jackie Robinson. Joyous fun for all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ode to Norworth's beloved anthem includes the song's little-known verses about \"Katie Casey,\" who is depicted as a baseball-obsessed cat. When Katie's \"beau\" (a white dog) asks Katie to the movies, she instead suggests a trip to the stadium. There, they root, root, root for the home team, which includes a giraffe, zebra, and elephant. Sometimes awkward phrasing and meter (\"When the score was 2-2,\/ Katie Casey, she had the clue,\/ to cheer on the boys,\/ she knew just what to do\") may explain why the verses don't have the popularity of the chorus, but fans should still enjoy Hirao's dynamic scenes of ballpark action. An included CD features Carly Simon's performance of the song and two others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt wouldn't be baseball season without a new rendition of \"Take Me Out to the Ball Game.\" This one includes a three song CD by Carly Simon, who has altered a few of the lyrics to modernize the language and added an interesting note about Jackie Robinson living with her family from 1954 to 1955. The main purpose here seems mainly to be to showcase the CD, which was originally recorded for the Ken Burns PBS program. The illustrations are vibrant and pleasing and make full use of each spread as feline Katie Casey, an avid baseball fan, spends every cent she has to go and \"root for the hometown crew.\" There is plenty of ballpark activity crammed into each scene, and the animal characters are amusing, if sometimes busy. Name recognition will raise interest in this book, mainly among adults.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Loons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is all about the vibrant illustrations of Amiko Hirao that picture a group of animals taking to the diamond for a spirited baseball game. Katie Casey, a hardball loving feline, is rooting on the home team at Sluggers Stadium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the score tied 2-2, Katie gets the crowd to sing an old classic, \u003ci\u003eTake Me Out to the Ball Game\u003c\/i\u003e, to spark the home team. Does it work? You'll have to read the book to see!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncluded with this volume is a CD that features three songs sung by Carly Simon: \u003ci\u003eI Gave My Love a Cherry\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eScarborough Fair\u003c\/i\u003e and, of course, \u003ci\u003eTake Me Out to the Ball Game\u003c\/i\u003e. What the first two songs have to do with the story line isn't clear but no matter. Ms. Simon is easy to listen to and all her music is pretty cool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe real attraction here, though, is not the text or bonus CD but the art work. It jumps right off the page and demands that you get into the swing of this spirited ball game. When elephant comes roaring down the baseline from third with the game in the balance and a play at the plate, you know there's going to be a huge roar from the stands if he is safe!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/take-me-out-to-cvr.jpg?7366137528644515996\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/take-me-out-to-hires.zip?7366137528644515996\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-93614-026-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-398-1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePage count: 26\u003cbr\u003e11 \u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e8\u003c\/sub\u003e x 10 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game-board-book\" title=\"Take Me Out to the Ball Game Board Book\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoard Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-071-5\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}