The Bat Boy & His Violin

By: Gavin Curtis

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Synopsis: Reginald loves making beautiful classical music. Practicing to develop his talent is a pleasure for the little boy whose mother offers encouragement and listens with equal pleasure. As he diligently prepares for a recital, his father, the manager of the Dukes, a down-on-its-luck team in the Negro national League, appoints his son bat boy in hopes of inspiring Reginald to follow in his footsteps and prepare for a career in professional baseball. Reginald would much rather spend his time mastering his recital pieces, but he is also anxious to please his father. Though well meaning, the little boy causes disaster on the baseball diamond. To prevent further mishaps, he is sent to the bench to harmlessly play his violin. The lovely music unexpectedly brings out the best in the Dukes and Papa listens more appreciatively than he has ever before. In this story of family love, Papa gains pride in his son's ambition and gives the boy whole hearted support. The volunteer who scanned this book has written appealing descriptions of the beautiful water color illustrations. Gavin Curtis has written a satisfying, affectionately told, short story of warm family bonds, set at a time when the prowess of players for the Negro National League is rewarded and they begin merging with the formerly all white teams. This is good reading for anyone from preschool to adult.