Hubaldo Antonie Romero Páez falls asleep each night dreaming of cheering fans. In his imagination, he is the hero, hitting the home run that means the national victory for his baseball team. Hubaldo's dream is one shared by many U.S. children, but this nine-year-old boy lives in Venezuela, where béisbol is more than a national pastime--it's a national passion. In Hubaldo's own barrio (neighborhood), children of all ages play many types of baseball, and when they're not playing the game or practicing, they are often trading cards and talking about their favorite players and teams in the country's two professional leagues. Active color photographs of Hubaldo and his friends, and reproductions of Venezuelan team logos and baseball cards add to the visual interest of a book in which young Hubaldo describes the love of baseball in this South American country. (Hubaldo notes that the fact that baseball is played in both North and South American makes it a truly all-American sport). Baseball fans will especially enjoy learning about different types of baseball played by Venezuelan children and the Spanish language words for many baseball terms, which are provided in a glossary at the back. (Ages 8-11)

Join nine-year-old Hubaldo Romero Paez in Venezuela as he introduces his friends, his family, and his favorite sport-baseball. Complemented by a map and an English-Spanish baseball glossary, Hubaldo's story is an inviting introduction to a foreign land viewed through the lens of a shared passion. "This dynamic sports photo-essay will be fun for sports fans and effective for social studies units."-Booklist