Catching the Moon

The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream
By Crystal Hubbard, Randy Duburke
Paperback: $11.95

The spirited story of Marcenia Lyle, the African American girl who grew up to become “Toni Stone,” the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.

Description

If there was anything in the world better than playing baseball, Marcenia Lyle didn’t know what it was. As a young girl in the 1930s, she chased down fly balls and stole bases, and dreamed of one day playing professional ball.

With spirit, spunk, and a great passion for the sport, Marcenia struggled to overcome the objections of family, friends, and coaches, who felt a girl had no place in the field. When she finally won a position in a baseball summer camp sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals, Marcenia was on her way to catching her dream.

Full of warmth and youthful energy, Catching the Moon is the story of the girl who grew up to become the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team. Readers everywhere will be inspired by her courage to dream and determination to succeed.

About the Creators

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard is a full-time writer and former sports journalist. Her Lee & Low titles The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby, Catching the Moon: The Story of A Young Girl's Baseball Dreams, and Game, Set, Match: Champion Arthur Ashe have been recognized with several honors, including being named to Bank Street College's Best Children's Books of the Year and the ALA's Amelia Bloomer Project. Hubbard lives in Missouri with her family. You can find her on Twitter at @XstalBooks.

Randy Duburke

Randy DuBurke is a full-time artist, whose work has appeared in books for young readers, DC and Marvel comics, The New York Times, and MAD magazine. A native of Brooklyn, New York, DuBurke now lives in Switzerland with his wife and their two sons. His website is randyduburke.com.

Awards

  • Storyline Online Selection

    SAG-AFTRA Foundation / Storyline Online

  • Amelia Bloomer Book List

    American Library Association (ALA)

  • Best Children's Books of the Year

    Bank Street College of Education

Reviews

  • "This account of the talent and determination fueling [Marcenia Lyle's] eventual success in the Negro Leagues (as Toni Stone) is vigorously told. Even better are DuBurke's paintings depicting Marcenia lunging for a ball and tearing around the bases."

    - The Horn Book
  • "Much like its winsome, pigtailed heroine, this heartwarming picture book will inspire and engage dreamers young and old."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781600605727
  • Price $11.95
  • Publication Date Sep 01, 2005
  • Trim Size 10.75 × 8.5 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Word Count 1877
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781584302438
  • Price $16.95
  • Publication Date Sep 01, 2005
  • Trim Size N/A
  • Weight 1 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Word Count 1877
  • Interests

  • Imprint Lee & Low Books
  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Sports & Recreation
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Women
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / African American & Black
  • Themes African / African American / Black, Biography / Memoir, Breaking Gender Barriers, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Discrimination, Dreams & Aspirations, Friendship, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Optimism / Enthusiasm, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Poverty, Social & Emotional Learning, Social Justice & Activism, Sports, Sports History, Women's History
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 10
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 5
  • Guided Reading R
  • ATOS Book Level 4.3
  • DRA 40
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 5
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 640
  • Lexile Measurement AD640L
  • Reading Level Grades 3 - 4
  • SRC 3.4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

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