Derek Jeter Presents Night at the Stadium

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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Night at the Stadium is a silly, lighthearted children's book about a boy with a wild imagination who gets separated from his family after a game and has a magical experience. It's a fantasy adventure infused with the positivity and star power of Yankee-legend-turned-publisher Derek Jeter. Parents looking for books with diverse characters will find a fun story featuring a mixed-race family, in which no point is made of that fact.
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What's the Story?
NIGHT AT THE STADIUM is a colorful picture book from Derek Jeter's upstart publishing company that tells the story of a young Yankee fan, Gideon, who gets separated from his family in the chaos at the end of an evening at the ballpark. Wandering the tunnels of the historic stadium, Gideon befriends a series of inanimate objects, such as rakes, hoses, bats, balls, and junk food, all of which magically come to life and try to help him on his adventure. After being led to Monument Park (where he speaks with the ghost of Babe Ruth), he meets his idol Derek Jeter, who returns the boy's lost autograph book and signs the cover. Finally, Gideon finds his parents, but when he tries to introduce them to his new "friends," he discovers that they've vanished.
Is It Any Good?
The joy and mystery of youthful adventure are captured well by author Phil Bildner and illustrator Tom Booth, whose goofy and vibrant artwork breathes life into a simple story. The shenanigans Gideon gets into with the chattering cotton candy, cracker jacks, and other colorful characters he encounters are cute and imaginative, if not necessarily funny, and young kids will likely be unable to resist the charm of smiling hot dogs and cotton candy. Baseball fans with a good imagination will have fun with this Night at the Museum-esque adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what to do if they get separated in a crowd. What are some ways you can make sure that you don't get lost?
What do you think of the mix of sports and fantasy?
Have you ever met your favorite star player? Can you think of any way you might get his or her autograph?
Book Details
- Author: Phil Bildner
- Illustrator: Tom Booth
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Sports and Martial Arts, Adventures
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Aladdin
- Publication date: April 26, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 2, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love sports and competition
Themes & Topics
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