Frequently Asked Questions / Bats at the Ballgame

Q: Why are the bats playing baseball in a tent?

A: When I was working on the book, I thought a lot about what bats might use for a baseball stadium. Scale was a big problem—even a Little League field would have been way too big for the bats. In the end, I thought about the Marshfield (MA) Fair, which is held every year near my town, and I thought that a carnival tent like the ones they have there would be just about the right size. The added bonus was that the bats could hang by their claws from the tent cloth, and be comfortable upside down while watching the game. They’ve just got to be careful about how they hold their snacks and drinks!

Q: Is Bats at the Ballgame about a particular team?

A: I meant this book to be about baseball, more than about any one team. It’s about the traditions of the game, and about one generation sharing its love for baseball with younger generations. That said, baseball fans will be able to find symbols or objects from many different MLB teams in the illustrations, as well as in the words (how many can you find?).

Q: Is the little bat with the yellow floaties from your other bat books back in this one?

A: Yes, Little Bat is being taken to his first batball game by his grandfather bat. He gets to try out lots of new things, like catching a foul ball and eating mothdogs.