Casey at the Bat [Hardcover]

Grade 5 Up–Morse updates Thayer's baseball classic to a modern, urban setting with a multiracial cast filling the familiar roles. As tall buildings loom above them, metallic fences confine the players who seem pensive and watchful. The figures are strikingly rendered in oils and acrylics, their features sharply limned in thick black lines and smudges of neutral color. Their baggy jeans and sweatshirts only serve to emphasize the powerful grace of their large, muscular bodies. The artist captures the explosive action in panel drawings and suggests conflict through the placement of figures on the page. The fans watch the game with a fierce intensity, and the crowd seems volatile. This marks a sharp contrast to traditional versions, such as Christopher Bing's Caldecott honor winner (Handprint, 2000) and C. F. Payne's humorous rendition (S & S, 2003). This latest Casey commands the spotlight with his stunning physique and masterful demeanor, but Morse shows readers his vulnerability. In the end, the bereft batter kneels at the plate as the last member of the home crowd adjusts his headphones and ambles off. Featuring an artful design and small size, this version will find a wide audience among older readers. Morse proves once again the timeless appeal of Thayer's classic poem, and extends its relevance to a new generation of readers.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
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[One of the most striking Canadian picture books of the year.

The artist captures the explosive action ? and extends (the poem’s) relevance to a new generation of readers.

Visions in Poetry is an exciting and unique series of classic poems illustrated by outstanding contemporary artists in stunning hardcover editions. Casey at the Bat, the fourth book in the series, is more than a poem about a proud and mighty slugger who strikes out during the big game. It is a slice of baseball lore, as much a part of the game as hot dogs and the seventh-inning stretch. Illustrator Joe Morse sets the poem on gritty urban streets with a multiracial cast of characters. It's a startlingly fresh approach that not only revives the poem for a new generation, but also brings it new richness and depth.

Joe Morse is an award-winning illustrator and the director of Sheridan Institute's illustration degree program in Toronto, Ontario. His first picture book, Casey at the Bat, has received numerous honors.