She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story.

She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story
By Audrey Vernick, ill. by Don Tate
HarperCollins, 2010

Rising picture book star Audrey Vernick aptly autographed this book: "Do what you love and love what you do."

Effa Manley truly loved baseball. And she had an incredible impact on the game. She managed and owned the Brooklyn Eagles, demanded that Negro League teams be paid for trades when the major leagues integrated, and convinced the National Baseball Hall of Fame to induct Negro League players.

She's an inspiring person whose work is done mostly off the field. I've never seen a picture book about the business side of a sport. She Loved Baseball shows Effa leading her team (and league) off the field while keeping the excitement of the game front and center. It's beautifully illustrated by Don Tate.

See the post below to learn how your students can read baseball picture books like this one, review it, and win books (including the autographed copy) for your classroom.