Monk is a tiny mouse with big ambitions. His dream is to play on the baseball team with the big kids, but so far they hadn’t invited him to join in. One day, while watching from the side lines, a player hurts his foot and the team reluctantly lets Monk take his place. Monk fails miserably at every position and the big kids tell him that's he’s just not ready for baseball and to come back when he’s bigger. Disappointed, but still determined, Monk goes home and practices for weeks. He goes back to the ball park where the big kids refuse to let him play until he unexpectedly throws a fast ball. Monk was so good at pitching that he now had a permanent spot on the team. This book teaches children that it’s ok to fail, the important thing is that you get back up and try your hardest to accomplish your goals. ( )

A little mouse is told he is too little to play baseball with the bigger mice, he keeps trying and trying. He practices so much he becomes the best pitcher on the team and they become the only team with a band. All the practice shots show his musician parents practicing with their band. A good lesson in perserverance whether it is a sport or instrument. ( )