Take me out to the Yakyu written and illustrated by Aaron Meshon. Atheneum Books, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4424-4178-1
Summary: "I love baseball...in America...and in Japan", begins Meshon's text, narrated by a young boy lucky enough to have family in both countries. The boy attends a baseball game in America with his Pop Pop, and in Japan with his Ji Ji. Through a depiction of many aspects of his day, such as transportation to and from the game, stadium food, the cheers of the crowd, and the seventh inning stretch, readers will gain an appreciation for the many differences between the games and cultures half a world apart.
Each two-page spread includes the American experience in blue on the left, and the Japanese counterpart in red on the right, which allows readers to discover the many similarities and differences between the two. The narrative includes many Japanese words which are easily understood through context, and by comparison to the American account of the boy's day.
The author has included a listing of words relating to baseball, other objects, and people that children will be familiar with in both English and Japanese. Additionally, there is an extensive author's note covering baseball culture and history in both countries, which provides further background information for parents, teachers, and inquisitive young people.
Critical Evaluation: Through contrasting illustration panels, Meshon has created an engaging exploration of American and Japanese culture, which centers around the love of baseball in both countries. Children will enjoy examining the adjacent accounts as they follow the main character through his day with his family in America and Japan. The author has succeeded in presenting the culture of both nations with respect and equal regard.
Meshon's illustrations deserve special notice because of his unique style. The vibrant acrylic colors that he uses are glorious in themselves, but he has also created a pattern through the heavy use of blues for the American scenes and reds for the Japanese scenes. This provides a visual key for determining where each illustration takes place as the narrative's location switches back and forth from page to page.
The artwork manages to convey the absolute ease with which the young boy experiences the world around him, even when he is very far from home, by depicting the love and trust between the boy and his grandparents. This is a lovely book about family, baseball, and the common threads that tie the people of the world together.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7
Lexile Level: 610L
Awards: ALA 2014 Notable Children’s Books, Younger Readers; 2014 Ezra Jack Keats Award, New Illustrator Honor
Why Included? Meshon's artwork is captivating, and rather unusual. Even the Japanese baseball team mascot, a cicada, is drawn with pizazz. Meshon's second work for children, Tools Rule! is another winner in my book, and I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.