Topic: BASEBALL! (Books at the 1st Grade reading level - PART 1 OF 2)

Sports can be a great motivating subject to get kids reading so we've pulled together practice readers for children reading at beginning levels. This list features books at the 1st Grade reading level.  For books at the Kindergarten reading level that are about baseball, check here.

Note: there are many books with stories that feature baseball.  This list has a few but it mostly features Non-Fiction titles.

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BASEBALL!
(Sports For Sprouts)
by Holly Karapetkova

This simple book is available in Spanish as well as English. It is also Whiteboard Compatible.

Look below for sample pages that show what the Spanish and English sentences are like.

Both boys and girls are shown playing.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 86
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reader: 1.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 162584
-- Spanish edition


CAT AT BAT
(Step into Reading, Step 2)
by Susan Schade
Jon Buller (co-author and illustrator)

3.67 STARS from 18 GoodReaders

"Let's play ball,"
says Cat and Rat.

Skunk has the ball.
Bee has the bat.

Turtle can catch,
and Chick can slide.

These are some sample sentences from CAT AT BAT.  They are accompanied by colorful drawings which you'll see below. 

Word Count: 199
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader: 1.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 40723
--sample pages available


I CAN PLAY BASEBALL
(Welcome Books: Sports)
by Edana Eckart

I could only find sample pages of text with no  images.  In fact, I couldn't locate a good description and our local library doesn't carry this one.  Non-fiction.  Currently only ridiculous prices.

Sample text:

My name is Anne.
I am going to play baseball!

Word Count: 96

Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reader: 1.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 63603
Lexile: 80L


BASEBALL
(Wonder Books: Level 1 Sports)
by Cynthia Klingel and Robert Noyed

From the publisher's website:  illustrations and simple text describe the fun a child has playing baseball.

Word Count: 91
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reading level: 1.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 48211

LET'S GO TO A BASEBALL GAME
(Welcome Books: Weekend Fun)
by Mary Hill

This series is about fun things to do on the weekend.  This book covers going to a ball game.

Sample text:

The baseball game is 
played in a stadium.

Stadiums are very large.

Word Count: 100
Page Count:
Accelerated Reading level: 1.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 75816
Lexile: 270L


THIS IS BASEBALL
by Margaret Blackstone
John O'Brien (Illustrator)

3.86 STARS from 14 GoodReaders

Cute artwork covers the basics that most children who are reading will know.

Word Count: 110
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 1.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 44433
Lexile: BR



AT BAT: Bb SOUND
(Sound Adventures)
by Precious McKenzie
 Mike Byrne (Illustrator) 

This book is more oriented for teacher use as the focus is the 'B" sound.  I did find the following description but sample pages:

The Campers Play Baseball Until A Ball Flies Over The Fence.

Leveled Phonics Picture Book Reader. Contains Comprehension And Word Study Activities, Words To Know Before You Read, Picture Glossary, Pronunciation Guide, Definition, And Tips For Reading. Inside Front And Back Cover Teacher And Parent Support. Correlated To Common Core, Texas TEKS, Virginia Sols, And Georgia Performance Standards.

Word Count: 155
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reader: 1.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 157984

PETE THE CAT: PLAY BALL!
(My First I Can Read) also, (Pete the Cat: I Can Read)
by James Dean

3.82 STARS from 644 GoodReaders

Pete the Cat is super popular so no way were we going to leave him off the list.  With his signature groovy style, Pete plays ball!

Note, if your will, that there's more text in this book than others at the same level.  Where 100 words is close to the norm on this page, Pete's book has 300 words.

Word Count: 331
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader: 1.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 159071
Lexile: 120L


DEREK JETER: BASEBALL'S BEST
/Estrella del Beisbol 
(Reading Power: Superstars of Sports)
by Heather Feldman 

This is an easy first biography about one of Baseball's great players.  It's available in Spanish and Bilingual editions.  No sample pages available.

Ridiculously priced, seek this one out at the Library.

Word Count: 108
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reader:  1.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 45741
Lexile: 510L
--Spanish
--Bilingual Spanish/English

T-BALL TROUBLE
(My First Graphic Novel)
by Cari Meister
Jannie Ho (Illustrator)

3.33 STARS from 9 GoodReaders

Because Marco is too young to play baseball, he joins a T-ball game.  

This is an interesting book because it has a graphic novel format.  In fact, there are even instructions at the beginning as to 'HOW' to read the 'panels' of the story.  From my experience some children are going to love this, while others might find the new format distracting.  Fortunately we can be there as backups to share the fun by sharing the reading.

**I need to note that we haven't read this book. One mom commented that she didn't find it a 'happy' story.   If you've read this book please let us know what you think in a comment.

Word Count: 373
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 1.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 127471
Lexile: GN50L

for PART 1 of 2

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You might also be interested in:

• VERY Easiest Easy Readers about Baseball -- KINDERGARTEN reading level
• Topic: BASEBALL!  -- Books at the FIRST GRADE reading level
  So many books that we have two pages!
  -- Part 1 of 2  (books from AR 1.0 to AR 1.5)
  -- Part 2 of 2  (books from AR 1.6 to AR 1.9)

• Jackie Robinson - Baseball great -- an assortment of reading levels
• MATT CHRISTOPHER Sports Books at the 3rd GRADE reading level

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