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The Bat Boy and His Violin
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The Bat Boy and His Violin Hardcover - 1998

by Gavin Curtis; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)

There's nothing Reginald loves more than the music from his violin. But his father, manager of one of the worst baseball teams in the Negro Leagues, needs a bat boy, not a "fiddler". Needing a place to practice, Reginald fills the dugout with music in his spare moments--and inspires a rally by the team that culminates in a showdown with the best team in the league. Full color.


Summary

"Is -- Reginald -- at -- it -- again?" Papa shouts between notes.
"Hush up," Mama says, "I just love this one."
Papa sometimes comes home in a bad mood because he's the manager of the Dukes -- the worst team in the Negro National League.

Reginald loves his violin. His constant practice pays off in floods of beautiful music. But Papa could care less about Reginald's "fiddling." He's more concerned about the Dukes's losing streak, and he needs his son for something other than playing music. When Papa makes Reginald the Dukes's bat boy, Reginald worries that his practice time will suffer, and that he won't be ready for his recital. He takes on every free moment he can find to play, and ends up filling the dugout with Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. Soon the Dukes begin to shake their bad luck. But there's still that big game against the Monarchs, and there's still Papa's heart that needs winning over.
In this beautifully told story of family ties and team spirit, Gavin Curtis captures a very special period in history. Award-winning artist E.B. Lewis brings the warmth of this powerful story to life with his lush watercolor paintings.

From the publisher

A young aspiring violinist learns the value of family ties and team spirit in this picture book lushly illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner E.B. Lewis about a down-on-their-luck baseball team and the music that turns their season around. Reginald loves to create beautiful music on his violin. But Papa, manager of the Dukes, the worst team in the Negro National League, needs a bat boy, not a "fiddler," and traveling with the Dukes doesn't leave Reginald much time for practicing. Soon the Dukes' dugout is filled with Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach--and the bleachers are filled with the sound of the Dukes' bats. Has Reginald's violin changed the Dukes' luck--and can his music pull off a miracle victory against the powerful Monarchs?

Details

  • Title The Bat Boy and His Violin
  • Author Gavin Curtis; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition 1st
  • Pages 32
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, NY, U.S.A.
  • Date 1998-04-01
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780689800993 / 0689800991
  • Weight 0.87 lbs (0.39 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.55 x 11.33 x 0.34 in (21.72 x 28.78 x 0.86 cm)
  • Ages 04 to 08 years
  • Grade levels P - 3
  • Reading level 780
  • Themes
    • Ethnic Orientation: African American
    • Theometrics: Secular
    • Topical: Family
  • Library of Congress subjects Fathers and sons, African Americans
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 97025417
  • Dewey Decimal Code E

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 06/15/1998, Page 1765
  • Hornbook Guide to Children, 07/01/1998, Page 0
  • Publishers Weekly, 04/06/1998, Page 77
  • School Library Journal, 07/01/1998, Page 72

About the author

Gavin Curtis was born in New York City. His love of writing and drawing developed very early. In elementary school, he created comic books to entertain his friends. When he got older, Gavin went to college at the School of Visual Arts. There, he studied cartooning with renowned storyteller Will Eisner, and even collaborated with Mr. Eisner on two covers for the school's comic book magazine Gallery. He also studied children's book illustration and created the book dummy for his first picture book, Grandma's Baseball. When Gavin finished school, he began working for Marvel Comics where he drew and eventually wrote many stories. He also completed graduate school to get his master's degree in education and become an elementary school teacher. Today, an educator, writer and illustrator, Mr. Curtis continues to push himself creatively. E.B. Lewis is the award-winning illustrator of such books as Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, which was a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, and This Little Light of Mine. He received the Caldecott Honor for Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman by Nikki Grimes. E.B. Lewis lives in New Jersey, and you can visit him online at EBLewis.com.
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The Bat Boy and His Violin
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The Bat Boy and His Violin

by Curtis, Gavin

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780689800993 / 0689800991
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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

by Curtis, Gavin; Lewis, E.B. [Illustrator]

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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

by Curtis, Gavin

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The Bat Boy and His Violin
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The Bat Boy and His Violin

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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

by Gavin Curtis; Illustrator-E.B. Lewis

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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The Bat Boy and His Violin
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The Bat Boy and His Violin

by Curtis, Gavin & E.B. Lewis

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Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 1998. Hardcover. 0689800991 . Stiff unmarked book in crisp dust jacket. Winner of Coretta Scott King Award. ; 11.10 X 8.50 X 0.40 inches; 32 pages .
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The Bat Boy & His Violin.
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The Bat Boy & His Violin.

by Curtis, Gavin; E. B. Lewis

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New York Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998, hardcover. Later printing. SIGNED by the author with greeting, to [names]. Award sticker on front. -- Hardcover, oblong 11.5x8.5 inches. Condition: near fine, with near fine dust jacket. ISBN 0689800991
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The Bat Boy & His Violin

The Bat Boy & His Violin

by Curtis, Gavin

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Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1998. Hardcover. 0689800991 . Faint vertical crease to rear panel of dustjacket else a fine copy with medal on front panel, now in protective mylar. Illustrator inscribed title page "To Jordan follow your passion! E. B. Lewis." Winner of the 1999 Coretta Scott King Honor for illustrator.; MCF03594; Oblong 8vo 8" to 9" tall; Signed by Illustrator .
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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
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The Bat Boy and His Violin (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

by Gavin Curtis, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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The Bat Boy & His Violin
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The Bat Boy & His Violin

by Curtis, Gavin

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