Water, Water Everywhere (Sluggers Series #4)

In over their heads?

THE YEAR IS 1899, and the Travelin' Nine are barnstorming their way across the good ol' U.S. of A., trying to raise money to pay off the Payne family's big-league debt.

Griffith has a run-in with the Chancellor and learns that the baseball isn't the only item the infamous industrialist is after. Even more mysteriously, the Chancellor claims to have something that the Paynes want.

And Ruby. Where in the world has she vanished to? Does her disappearance have anything to do with the Chancellor's threats? Or is there some other plan in play?

And finally, Graham makes a heartfelt birthday wish and somehow gets exactly what he asks for. But questions still remain: Was it real? Can it possibly be true? Or is it all just a dream?

If they don't watch out, Griffith, Ruby, Graham, and the Travelin' Nine may find themselves in deep water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!

Children's Literature

The Travelin' Nine baseball team needs a new pitcher and these former Rough Riders are stymied as to where to find one. Ruby has an idea and runs off to talk with Preacher Wil to see if he will come to Minneapolis, their next barnstorming stop, to be the hurler for the team. When waves of water appear on the base paths, Griffith, Ruby and Graham determine the ballists must "ride the waves" and "Go with the flow!" However, a bit of magic from the special baseball and solid teamwork cannot overcome the Chancellor's umpire bribe. Fans of the previous books will relish the play-by-play action and the baseball lingo. The story moves along with Graham wishing to see his lost father and the announcement that there is a "mole on the team." Who can it be? Why was the Chancellor so intent on the Travelin' Nine losing this game? Did Graham really see his father? Readers will be anxious to read the next book in the series to find out what will happen to the Payne children and these 1899 barnstormers. This is Number 4 in the "Sluggers" series, which was previously called "Barnstormers." The packaging and cover design are also new. The book now comes with a jacket and a new size of 8 inches high by 6 inches wide. I am sorry to report that the map of the United States that shows the route of the barnstormers no longer appears on the inside covers. It was a nice subtle touch to familiarize middle readers with some U.S. geography and hopefully we will see a return in at least the hardcover titles. The story, written as a serial, has lost none of its charm, mystery or fun, however. At the beginning of each book is a "Pregame Recap" of the previous title so readers can read each independently. Still,with the open ending of each book readers will want to read the series in order. There will be a total of six books in the series. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

#1 New York Times Best Seller LOREN LONG's illustrations have received two gold medals from the Society of Illustrators and his first picture book, Angela Johnson's I Dream of Trains, won the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award for Illustrations and his inspired interpretation of Walt Whitman's When I Heard Learn'd Astronomer was a Golden Kite Honor. A much sought after editorial artist whose work has appeared in Times, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and Atlantic Monthly, Loren is widely known for the illustrations in Madonna's #1 New York Times Best Seller Mr. Peabody's Apples. And Watty Piper's The Little Engine That Could. He lives in West Chester, Ohio, with his wife, Tracy, and two young sons, Griffith and Graham.

Phil Bildner is the author of the New York Times bestselling Sluggers! series, the Texas Bluebonnet Award-winning Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy and its companion, The Shot Heard 'Round the World, both illustrated by C. F. Payne; and Twenty-One Elephants, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. His latest picture book is Turkey Bowl, illustrated by C.F Payne. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.