Willy Welch

This book is about a group of kids who gather in the schoolyard on Saturday afternoons in the summer to play baseball. A boy narrates the way the teams are picked and how the worst players are sent to the outfield. He never has to ask where they want him he always just heads to right field. He tells us to play right field you can be awkward and slow that’s why he is in right field watching dandelions grow. He daydreams about a ball being hit to him and how the pros never bat last because they are so fast. Then everyone is yelling and looking at him so he looks up and the ball has fallen into his glove. Then he tells us that here in right field you have to know what you’re doing that’s why he’s there.

I loved this story. I love baseball and think kids can understand how it feels to be picked last. It’s fun to see his opinion change about how good you have to be to play in right field.

1. Could be used in a lesson about teamwork, how every member on a team is important and we need to be prepared and ready.
2. Could be used as an example in beginning poetry to start a poetry writing assignment. They could take their favorite game or sport and make a short poem about it.… (altro)