About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is expressing a strong fear of getting hurt or failing, particularly in sports or a new physical activity. Danny loves baseball, but after moving to a new town and joining a team, he's paralyzed by a fear of being hit by the pitch. This gentle, short chapter book follows his journey as a supportive coach and a new friend help him understand that bravery isn't the absence of fear, but acting in spite of it. It's an excellent choice for early chapter book readers, ages 7 to 10, as it normalizes anxiety around performance and provides a quiet, realistic model for overcoming it. The focus is on the internal victory of trying, not just the external one of winning.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book's central theme is fear and performance anxiety. The approach is direct, secular, and focused on the internal emotional experience of the child. The resolution is hopeful and realistic. Danny does not magically become a star player; instead, he finds a strategy (bunting) that allows him to participate and contribute, which is a powerful message about finding your own version of success.
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