Batter Up

If you have an under-10  sports fan in your house, chances are that you know the work of Dan Gutman. His novels take up a whole shelf and more in many school libraries, and the Baseball Card Adventure series, in particular,  comes recommended by Guys Read. One of the books in that series, Honus and Me, takes to the stage next summer (that's 2006) in an adaptation by the playwright Steven Dietz.

So your Little Leaguer can read the book now and be ready for next year's  play—and a trip to Chelsea, Michigan, home of Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre Company and the scene of Honus and Me's summer run. (Honus and Me premieres at the Seattle Children's Theatre at spring training time,  next March.) Keep an eye on your local theater's schedule; Dietz's play looks to be quite popular for the 2005-2006 season.

Writers seeking inspiration will do well to check out  Dan Gutman's entertaining rejection letters for Honus and Me on his web site.