cover image At the Ballpark

At the Ballpark

Ken Robbins. Viking Children's Books, $13.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-670-81600-2

This collection of hand-tinted photographs builds a sense of exhilaration about the game of baseball from the very first page. Through well-designed pages and perfect photographic composition, Robbins shows all kinds of pre-game activities: cleaning the stands, painting baselines and bases and putting out the bats. Soon players and fans alike arrive, keyed up in expectation of an exciting game. Robbins's knowledge and love of the subject is apparent on every spread; he doesn't play favorites, so several clubs are represented in the photographs. A purposely restricted palette of tints produces a nostalgic look but also creates tremendous visual drama. All ages. (May)