
A parent might reach for this book to inspire a sense of family teamwork, especially among siblings who love sports. It tells the incredible true story of the twelve Acerra brothers who, growing up in the 1930s, formed their own semi-pro baseball team. The book follows their journey from a crowded home filled with love to the baseball diamond, highlighting their unbreakable bond. It gently touches on historical events like World War II, emphasizing themes of perseverance and family loyalty. This is a wonderful choice for young readers who enjoy history and sports, offering a real-life example of what a family can achieve when they work together.
The primary sensitive topic is war. The book directly addresses World War II, noting that six of the brothers went to fight. The approach is secular and simplified for a young audience. The resolution is entirely hopeful and reassuring, as the text explicitly states, “And they were luckier than many. All six came home.” This framing preempts anxiety about the potential outcomes of war, focusing instead on the family's relief and resilience.
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Sign in to write a reviewThis book is perfect for a 7 to 10-year-old who is passionate about sports, especially baseball, and enjoys true stories. It would also strongly resonate with a child who is part of a large family or has close-knit siblings, as it provides a powerful, positive model for sibling collaboration and support.
A parent should be prepared to briefly discuss World War II, as mentioned on pages 24-27. While the book handles the topic gently and with a happy outcome, a child may have questions about why the brothers had to go to war. No other significant prep is needed; the story is straightforward and uplifting. A parent has children who are bickering and struggling to work together as a team. The parent is looking for a story that models a positive, unified sibling dynamic to inspire cooperation. Alternatively, a child who loves baseball has asked for a true story about the sport.
A younger child (age 7) will primarily be captivated by the novelty of a twelve-brother baseball team and the action of the game. An older child (age 9-10) will be better equipped to grasp the historical context, the passage of time, the emotional weight of the war, and the true significance of the family's decades-long legacy.
Unlike many sports biographies that focus on a single, transcendent superstar, this book celebrates a collective, familial achievement. Its uniqueness lies in its focus on teamwork and sibling bonds as the foundation of greatness, rather than individual talent. It beautifully merges a family story with sports history, making it both relatable and historically informative.
This picture book nonfiction tells the true story of the twelve Acerra brothers from a large Italian-American family in New Jersey. Starting in the 1930s, the brothers formed a semi-professional baseball team, eventually becoming the longest-running all-brother team in history. The narrative covers their childhood passion for the game, their local fame, the interruption of World War II when six of the brothers served in the military, and their joyful reunion and continued play after the war, culminating in their recognition by the Baseball Hall of Fame.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.