A Basic Guide to Softball

Children's Literature

How many kids know that softball began as an indoor game? Probably very few, and when you tell them that the original ball was a rolled-up boxing glove, they probably won't believe you. Kids will find plenty of other interesting facts about the sport, a derivative of baseball and a wildly popular sport among Americans of all ages. Beginners will be awestruck by the notion of 55-mile-an-hour pitches thrown UNDERHAND, but they can use the information about the fundamentals of softball to improve their own games. The book offers useful information about care of equipment, warming up, game safety and first aid, and also encourages other family members to get into the game by being respectful fans or active volunteers. One in the "Official U.S. Olympic Committee Sports" series. 2001, Griffin, . Ages 9 up. Reviewer: Donna Freedman