“I must have been born to play baseball,” says the young narrator of this story based on the life of Alta Weiss, a young woman who grew up early in the twentieth century and pitched ball for a semi-pro team in Ohio at the age of 17. In a friendly, folksy narrative, Alta’s passion and enthusiasm for pitching and her love of the game from the time she was a small child shine. When she approaches the coach of the Vermilion Independents and asks for a chance to play, “the Independents’ crusty old coach took one look at my long, blue skirt, [and] he spit hard on the ground. 'Go home, missy. You’re a girl—and this is baseball.’” But Alta doesn’t give up. Convincing the coach to give her a chance, she becomes a wild success—not only winning games, but drawing in crowds. It isn’t the only time in her life that Alta would break down barriers, as the narrator briefly describes going on to attend medical school, where she is the only girl in her class. There is a photograph of the real Alta Weiss on the back cover of this winning picture book. She is posed to release the ball, with a look of serious intent that makes it clear there is little that can stand in this young woman’s way. (Ages 5–9)

Inspired by the life of pioneering female baseball player Alta Weiss, and dramatized by Terry Widener’s bold illustrations, Girl Wonder tells the unforgettable story of a true American original.

Alta Weiss was born to play baseball, simple as that. From the age of two, when she hurls a corncob at a pesky tomcat, folks in her small Ohio town know one thing for sure: She may be a girl, but she’s got some arm.

When she’s seventeen, Alta hears about a semipro team, the Independents. Here’s her big chance! But one look at Alta’s long skirts tells Coach all he needs to know—girls can’t play baseball! But faster than you can say “strike out,” Alta proves him wrong: Girls can play baseball!