Gary Soto\u27s previous prose collections (Living Up the Street: Narrative Recollections -- 1985, Small Faces -- 1986, and Lesser Evils: Ten Quartets -- 1988) all contained stories about growing up, but this latest book focuses exclusively on the trials and tribulations of children and young teenagers. The eleven sketches in Baseball in April range in subject from broken Barbie dolls to championship marble tournaments, and all reveal a compassionate, understanding insight as well as the deft handiwork of a fine writer. For those who do not understand Spanish, the author has supplied a short appendix with translations of words and expressions. Artist Barry Root\u27s dust jacket depicting a red pickup full of boys and baseball gear is a splendid one that invites the reader to delve into the volume
