At the age of 4, The Bear was given a choice to either try soccer or try baseball, he chose baseball. This began a love affair with the game that continues on today. He plays rep baseball and is one of the Toronto Blue Jays biggest fans. When we saw Andrew Larsen’s new story The Thing Lenny Loves Most About Baseball it was a must get. Illustrated by Milan Pavlovic it’s a wonderful story that reminds me of those early days on the diamond.

Full disclosure, The Bear is 10 so the book wasn’t his favourite, however Little Bear would have had this book on request every night. Lenny knows a lot about baseball. He is always reading from his book of baseball facts. He figures the more he knows, the better he will play. Lenny tries hard in his games but he fails more than he succeeds, such is the game of baseball. When he realizes that practice makes better but not perfect, he realizes all he loves about baseball.

Baseball is one of those sports where you are going to fail more than you succeed. If you have been watching the Toronto Blue Jays games lately you are seeing it on full display. It’s one of the reasons it's such a great game. Perseverance and practice are what will make a great player. I love that Lenny practices in his own way. To get better at catching fly balls he wears a very funny looking helmet. His dad is patient with him and always eager to help him practice, with an encouraging word after the game or practice session, a fabulous model for would be sports parents out there. Even though Lenny fails and questions whether he wants to continue playing, his book of facts and his love for the game spur him on.

The illustrations by Milan Pavlovic are fantastic. Each page is full of colour and action. There are there great excerpts from Lenny’s book of facts and a lot of baseball action.

Let’s Go Blue Jays!