My husband and I don't have any children yet, but I'm going to school to be an elementary school teacher so am always on the lookout for great kids' books. We found Bats at the Beach and Bats at the Library at a book store several months ago, read both standing there, and just laughed and laughed. We bought both books on the spot, have given several copies to children we know as gifts, and I even used Bats at the Library as the basis for my first lesson plan. The kids at the school loved it! We've been eagerly waiting for Bats at the Ball Game to come out and were so excited to find it at the book store today. We rushed home with it like a pair of giggly 8 year olds and read it together. It does not disappoint! The story is good and suspenseful, but the author's word choice and the illustrations are absolutely delightful. We aren't even baseball fans and hardly understand how the game works, but we loved this book anyway. I think children who are into baseball would like it even more!
We really hope Brian Lies writes some more bat books. We spotted a toboggan on the very last page of the book- perhaps Bats at the Sledding Hill will be next? Or Bats at the Bowling Alley? I can imagine them bowling with marbles!