Baseball Saved Us

I love historical fiction.  Especially in picture books. Historical fiction allows children (and adults) to learn about events of the past, but in story form.  Children are much more likely to remember concepts important to history when they are shared through a story.  Baseball Saved Us by Ken Hochizuki is a touching story about a Japanese American boy, nicknamed Shorty, during World War II.  After the attach on Pearl Harbor,  Shorty and his family are forced to leave their home and are sent to live in an internment camp.  Shorty needs something to look forward to in camp.  His father builds a baseball field and a league is formed in the camp.  


I love this story because it appeals to many ages.  Young children can relate to the concept of being different and learning how to overcome obstacles.  Older children can discuss equality issues, the impact of war in regard to race and/or religion.  It is a story of hope and courage that shares an important part of American History.

I am always talking about the importance of schema (background knowledge) and making connections.  Schema is really important when sharing this book with your child.  The author has a nice note at the beginning of the story.  I encourage you to read and share the note with your child.  It will help give your child some important background knowledge so they are able to understand the story.  You might also ask your child what they know about World War II and share what you know with them.

When you read the story with your child not only will your child be able to make text-to-self connections, but they will also be able to make text-to-world connections.  Text-to-world connections are when a connection is made between the text and the larger context of the world.  Since this is a historical fiction book it is natural to make connections to world.  What is great about this story is that connections can be made to past world events, but they can also be made to current events.

Some questions to guide your thinking:

1.  Read to "We stayed there for a while until we came here" and ask your child:  How do you think it feels to be picked last for the team?  Why do you think the kids started calling him names?  Do you think that is fair?

2.  Read to "Babies cried at night and kept us up"  Talk with your child about the word barrack and what is might be like to live in a barrack.  Share with your child some history about internment camps.


3.  Read to "They looked almost like the real thing"  Ask your child:  Why do you think they worked so hard to make the baseball field?  Have you ever worked hard for something you really wanted?


4.  Read to "Everyone got quiet and the pitcher threw."  Ask your child:  What do you think is going to happen?  Why do you think the boy get made at the guard?


5.  Read to "Looked up at the tower and the man, with a grin on his face, gave me a thumb's-up sign."  Ask your child:  Why do you think the guard smiled?  How do you think the guard feels about the little boy?


6.  Read to "I had to eat lunch by myself" and ask your child:  Why do you think the kids were mean even though the war was over?  Share with your child a recent day connection you can make.


7.  Read to "it meant they hated me" and ask your child:  How would it make you feel if people called you names?  Can you think of a time when someone was not nice to you?  


8.  Read to the end of the story.  Ask your child:  How do you think the little boy feels now?  How did baseball help him fit in with his peers?

9.  Have a conversation with your child about the history part of the story.  Ask them:  Do you think it was right Japanese Americans were sent to interment camps during World War II?  Why do you think this?