“Bowen employs nearly every bit of applicable baseball lingo, with detailed descriptions of practicing and playing the games… In a nice touch, there are fun facts about some famous major league players who had lucky rituals, hats, bats, and more…. A good read for youngsters who know and love the game.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“A former kids’ baseball coach and the writer of a Washington Post sports column for young readers, Bowen adds an entertaining note on baseball superstitions…. The straightforward story will appeal to young players as well as older ones intimidated by longer novels.” ―Booklist

“This quick and to-the-point story is a solid choice for upper elementary readers as well as middle school collections looking to boost their hi-lo offerings.” ―School Library Journal

Alabama Camellia Award (Nominee, Grades 4-5 Fiction) ―Alabama Department of Education, 2019-2020

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate)―Kansas National Education Association, 2019

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (Master List) ―Salem State College, 2019-2020

Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.

“Bowen pitches a winner here.”―School Library Journal

Volunteer State Book Awards (Master List, Grades 4-6) ―Tennessee Association of School Librarians, 2003-2004

Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee, Grades 4-6) ―Association for Indiana Media Educators, 2002-2003

Best Bets for the Classroom (Transitional Novels) ―Virginia Center for the Book, 2000

Land of Enchantment Book Awards (Children’s Master List) ―New Mexico Library Association, New Mexico Council of IRA, 2002-2003

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Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee, Grades 3-5) ―Minnesota Youth Reading Awards, 2003-2004

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards (Nominee, Grades 3-6) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2002-2003

Virginia Young Readers (Elementary Master List) ―Virginia State Reading Association, 2002-2003

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Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of The Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.

“Sports-minded readers should find the brisk pacing and simple vocabulary to their liking.” ―School Library Journal

“The prolific Bowen serves up a baseball tale that should appeal equally to middle-grade fans and less-able older readers.” ―Booklist

Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.

“[Bowen’s] pacing is excellent and he has a knack for efficient evocation.” ―The Washington Post

“Bowen is a natural when it comes to writing sports stories and informing his readers about the past. These books are perfect for kids ages 8 to 12.” ―Newsday

Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.

Carol Gorman is the author of more than a dozen award-winning books for kids, including The Marvelous Makeover Of Lizard Flanagan, Dork In Disguise, Dork On The Run; and A Midsummer Night’s Dork. She coauthored Stumptown Kid with Ron J. Findley. She is a former middle school teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. Gorman lives in Iowa. You can visit her website here.

Ron J. Findley was involved in baseball from the time he was a boy growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a child he was always looking for a sandlot baseball game, and many of the ideas for Stumptown Kid are based on his memories of that time. He coached youth football, baseball, and softball teams for many years. He passed away in 2010.

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of over fifty works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children’s Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children’s book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Washington. You can visit her website here.

“Long-suffering Cubs fans of all ages (especially kids) will identify with the plight of a young Chicago boy whose knothole team can’t seem to make the grade. Then the presence of a Wrigley Field legend and his sunny-side-up approach to baseball changes everything.” ―USA Today Baseball Weekly

“Bowen is quickly joining the ranks of today’s most popular sports-fiction authors…. he skillfully interweaves fact and fiction and uses historical sports plays and concepts as a backdrop for the story.” ―School Library Journal

“Bowen is a natural when it comes to writing sports stories and informing his readers about the past. These books are perfect for kids ages 8 to 12.” ―Newsday

Maryland Children’s Book Award (Nominee, Intermediate) ―State of Maryland International Reading Council, 2001

Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.

Steven Krasner has been a sports writer for the Providence Journal for more than twenty-five years, covering baseball as a beat writer for the Boston Red Sox since 1986. He is a graduate of Columbia University and the author of several picture and chapter books. He lives in Rhode Island. You can visit his website here.

Steven Krasner has been a sports writer for the Providence Journal for more than twenty-five years, covering baseball as a beat writer for the Boston Red Sox since 1986. He is a graduate of Columbia University and the author of several picture and chapter books. He lives in Rhode Island. You can visit his website here.

“A combination of fast-paced action, sports savvy young characters and authentic situations makes this novel a winner.” ―Washington Parent

“Perfect Game is about the important lessons sports can teach: How to play for the love of the game.” ―Tim Shriver, Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics

“As always, Bowen provides the ‘real story’ behind his novel at the end of the book, and it makes for fascinating reading.” ―Standard-Examiner

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“The readers learn along with him, and that is the best way to teach, isn’t it? That words can hurt, that the effort is what counts, and most importantly that playing for the team’s win is ‘perfect enough.’ What a perfect addition to any reading list!” ―3rd Grade Reading

“Like the other sports stories from this author, this new title has a fast-paced plot, realistic characters in realistic situations, lots of details about the games, and historical information at the end of the story… Readers, young and old, will enjoy this story and will come away from it with a better understanding and appreciation for Special Olympics Unified Sports team members.” ―Bentley Book Notes

“A ‘perfect’ read for sports buffs. Fred Bowen combines likeable characters, realistic dialogue, and believable character growth with plenty of sports details, statistics, and lingo. Isaac’s personal development and understanding of the players on the Special Olympics team is impressive and rewarding.” ―Good Reading Guide

“The scenes with the Special Olympics Unified Basketball Team were spot on… The story will generate much discussion on what is normal and perfect. The story also teaches compassion, patience, and puts the topic of giving back or helping others at the center of any discussion of the book. I could not put it down. Any kid who reads this, boy or girl, will enjoy Isaac’s determination, spunk, spirit, and transformation.” ―Kid Lit Reviews

“This is my first experience reading Fred Bowen’s work and after reading Perfect Game I’ll gladly go back and read his previous books which focus on a variety of different sports. I can’t believe I hadn’t discovered his books sooner!” ―The Mad Reviewer

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Great Kids Can Read Award (Nominee) ―Greater Kansas City Assoc of School Librarians, 2015-2016

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Starred, Intermediate) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2014

Land of Enchantment Book Awards (Children’s Book) ―New Mexico Library Association, New Mexico Council of IRA, 2015-2016

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Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (Master List) ―Salem State College, 2013-14

Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee, Grades 3-5, 6-8) ―Minnesota Youth Reading Awards, 2015-2016

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Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.