This Is the Game

This is the swish!
as the pitch whizzes by

from the mound to the plate
in the blink of an eye.

From its beginning, as a pickup game played in alleyways, to the fan-filled stadiums of the major leagues, baseball has played a rich role in American history.

In this glorious tribute to our nation's favorite pastime, rich verse and vibrant illustrations bring the game of baseball to action-packed life.

Diane Z. Shore is an award-winning children’s author and read-aloud advocate. Her books have been translated into many languages. Diane loves to visit schools, and she travels across the US inspiring the most reluctant kids to read and the most hesitant students to write. She lives in Georgia with her husband and cat. You can visit her online at dianezshore.com.

Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander have collaborated on several children's books, including This Is the Dream and This Is the Game. One thing they have learned while cowriting stories is that when people work together, great things can happen. Both authors live with their families in metro Atlanta, Georgia.

Owen Smith's award-winning illustrations have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Time, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker (for which he has created seventeen cover illustrations). His paintings have been exhibited in New York, Rome, Milan, and Los Angeles.

A set of mosaic murals designed by Owen is permanently installed in the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, New York. He teaches illustration at the California College of the Arts. Owen lives with his wife and two sons in Alameda, California.