About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts asking 'how' and 'why' regarding the massive structures they see in the world, or when a trip to the local stadium sparks a deeper interest in engineering and history. While it is ostensibly about baseball, this is truly a book about the evolution of American design and the way our public spaces reflect our changing culture. It transitions from the simple wooden bleachers of the 1800s to the high-tech, multi-billion dollar cathedrals of today. Parents will appreciate how Lynn Curlee uses the ballpark as a lens to view American history, touching on urban development and the shift from neighborhood parks to massive suburban stadiums. It is perfectly suited for children aged 8 to 12 who have outgrown simple picture books but still crave beautiful, large-scale illustrations to help them visualize complex concepts. It turns a trip to the game into an educational exploration of architecture and social progress.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book is largely secular and objective. It briefly touches on the social shifts that dictated where parks were built, such as urban density and the rise of car culture. It does not go into depth regarding the racial segregation of the Negro Leagues, focusing primarily on the physical architecture of the Major League parks.
