Smarty Marty's Got Game

by Amy Gutierrez, Adam McCauley (Illustrator)

Overview

Amy Gutierrez ("Amy G" to San Francisco Giants fans) tells the inspiring story of older sister Marty, who teaches the game (and love) of baseball to her younger brother Mikey. Marty has always loved baseball and is known as "Smarty Marty" to her friends at school because she knows more about baseball than most grown-up baseball fans. However, her younger brother, Mikey, couldn't be bothered and just doesn't get it...UNTIL, Marty and Mikey attend a real baseball game, where Marty gradually teaches Mikey the ins and outs of baseball, the lingo, strategy, and more, often using real-life examples so Mikey can better understand. Before long, Mikey is no longer solely interested in the salted pretzels and garlic fries of the ballpark but is soon engrossed in the game and cheering along with his older sister. Amy G's story appeals to both boys and girls and also defies the strong gender stereotypes that Amy herself has battled in her 16-year career as a sports journalist and reporter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937359515
Publisher:	Cameron Kids
Publication date:	10/15/2013
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy Gutierrez, an Emmy-Award winning reporter and Bay Area native is entering her 20th year in the broadcasting industry and embarking upon her 6th season as a San Francisco Giants in-game reporter for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. She also serves as a contributing reporter for G-Mag, Giants Pregame and Postgame Live, and SportsNet Central. In her Bay Area broadcasting tenure, Amy has covered a variety of teams including the A's, San Jose Sharks, Raiders, 49ers, PAC-10 and WCC football and basketball and the San Jose SaberCats. Amy G's a graduate of UC Davis where she majored in Communications and played volleyball. She resides in her hometown of Petaluma with her husband and two children.

Adam McCauley enjoys illustrating, playing music, and making things. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, publications and campaigns world wide. Adam's work has been included in group shows in Osaka, San Francisco, New York, Tokyo and Nashville. He works out of his studio in the sunny Mission district in San Francisco.

Awards have included American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, Print Regional Design Annual, 3 x 3, and How Magazine. He received the Society of Illustrator's 51 Gold Medal for his illustrated monster stamp endpapers for the book "The Monsterologist:A Memoir In Rhyme" by Bobbi Katz, as well as the Society of Illustrator's 55 Silver Medal for "Simplicity City" WeTransfer.com. "Oh No, Not Ghosts!" was chosen to be included in AIGA's Top 100 show for 2007, "The Monsterologist" in AIGA's Top 100 Show for 2009.

Editorial Reviews

10/14/2013
First-time children's book author Gutierrez brings her background as a reporter for the San Francisco Giants and her evident enthusiasm for the game of baseball to this story about two siblings' day at the ballpark. Marty (named in honor of Gutierrez's baseball-loving grandmother) is excited to teach her less-than-enthusiastic younger brother, Mikey, the ins and outs of the game. As she does so, readers get an education in baseball terminology ("Hitters one and two are ‘table-setters.' Their job is to get on base"), scoring, strategies, and slang ("Grab some pine, Meat!" shouts Marty after a player strikes out). Marty's excitement never wavers, even when Mikey tests her patience. "Bunting is silly," Mikes says at one point. "Marty's eyes went wide, and she took a deep breath. ‘Bunting,' she said, ‘is actually very important.' " McCauley (Take Me to Your BBQ) composes dynamic scenes of ballpark action with a palette of outfield green, basepath tan, and—of course—Giants orange; a portion of sales benefit the nonprofit Junior Giants. An enlightening and entertaining intro to the national pastime. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

“Amy G’s wit and her knowledge and passion for baseball shine through in this heartwarming story about baseball and family that is sure to be a favorite in many homes.” - Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants Pitcher

"So glad to have a book I can share with my kids that speaks to the heart of the game. Amy’s sense of family and knowledge of baseball are very apparent. And it doesn’t hurt that the good guys wear orange and black!" - Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants Catcher

"Amy G captures all the elements of why a day at the yard is so much fun. The tips, details and love for the game are delivered in a great story I think kids and their parents will enjoy." - Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants Pitcher

"Amy G hits one Outta Here with Smarty Marty. I absolutely loved it!" - Duane Kuiper, San Francisco Giants Broadcaster and Former Second Baseman

"Amer the Gamer totally knocks it out of the park with Smarty Marty! It is a delightful story wrapped around the preservation of a great baseball tradition. Big League all the way!" - Mike Krukow, San Francisco Giants Broadcaster and Former Pitcher

From the Publisher

12/01/2013
Gr 1–4—Smarty Marty and her brother, Mikey, have tickets to the baseball game against their hometown team's biggest rivals. But Mikey isn't really a fan, especially when comparing baseball to video games. Lucky for him, his sister is the perfect companion to give him an appreciation for it, from keeping score to chowing down on snacks to walk-off home runs. Smarty Marty learned everything she knows about baseball from her great grandmother, and the narrative effectively captures the way families share both the love of a sport and of a particular team. The author capably weaves a substantial amount of basic information about baseball throughout, making this picture book a useful tool for families or caregivers looking to introduce children to the sport or prepare them for their first game. The kids' narrative occasionally takes a backseat to this background material, but McCauley's visually engaging cartoon layouts, unique perspectives, and overlayed frames capture the excitement of watching a live game. The vibrant color scheme largely emphasizes purples, greens, and oranges, with plenty of contrasting black and white accents. Back matter includes a biographical author note and tips for keeping score.—Ted McCoy, Oakland Public Library, CA

School Library Journal