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Two young pups, a girl named Cammie and her brother Oscar, receive a surprise from their grandfather Poppy. He bought tickets for them to watch the Yankees play ball. Although this was a family tradition, it would be the pups’ first visit. Poppy wanted them to see all the different fans and learn the history of the Yankees.
The family took a train into the city along with many other creatures—all eager Yankee fans. First stop inside the stadium’s admittance gate was Monument Park. There Cammie and Oscar learned about retired numbers once worn by famous players―’3’ worn by Babe Ruth and ‘47’ worn by Reggie Jackson. These numbers cannot be worn on uniforms again. The pups saw a monument for long-time Yankees’ owner, George Steinbrenner, called The Boss. After purchasing some peanuts, the new fans found their seats. They were ready to root for the Yankees and enjoy the game.
The pups were awed by the roll call and lucky enough to witness a record set for base hits by Derek Jeter. A large bear seated nearby lifted Oscar up so he could see Jeter’s hit. Oscar left the stadium that day saying, “Derek Jeter is my favorite player.” Aboard the train heading home, Cammie yelled, “Let’s Go Yankees.” All the animal passengers joined in the chant.
The book encourages acceptance of others, and the illustrations sometimes resemble a lively Noah’s ark. This educational picture book (11.25” by 9”) is well-written and illustrated and has a storyline and characters geared toward a young audience. The ‘All Things Yankee’ section is written for 8th grade to adult and provides information about famous players, nicknames, and customs.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review