“Home Base is the perfect mother daughter story that will leave you with all the empowering feels!” – Momma Braga
Synopsis
A young pitcher steps up to the plate. A hardworking mom interviews for her biggest job yet.
Girls and women aren’t always welcome in the worlds of baseball and bricklaying. But with practice, the right gear, and a whole lot of determination, this intrepid mom and daughter thrive under pressure. Readers get to see their parallel narratives unfold in tandem, coming together at the end for a sweet reward: ice cream!
This heartwarming story was inspired by Barbara Moore, who retired in 2014 after more than 40 years of bricklaying. When she started in 1973, she was Baltimore’s only female bricklayer. She, along with Mo’ne Davis, the first girl to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series, were among the incredible women in history that author Nikki Tate researched for this book.
#MelAndNikkiReview
Home Base: A Mother-Daughter Story is a heartwarming, empowering and inspiring for all children.
We just love when publishers know us so well and send us the perfect book that offers so much inspiration! We love seeing women in roles that normally they do not fulfill and the little girls who break gender boundaries. To us this is a home run!
This book is fun to read with radiant illustrations. We love how the narrative is the comparison of the mom and daughter’s day which are very similar, even though the tasks are different. In the end, they accomplish their goals and get a much deserved ice cream. Who doesn’t like ice cream after a hard day’s work?!
After reading the story to Nikki, she turned to me and said that this book reminds her of me and her. I turned to Nikki and asked what she meant.
“Mom you work in construction and I love wrestling. Not many girls do but we do and we are good at it.” – Nikki, Age 5
Loved how Nikki compared this story with ours as it meant she felt it relatable. Therefore, for this #MelAndNikkiReview we give it 10 stars out of 5! Bravo for an amazing story to inspire current and future generations of women.
This book is great for children ages four to eight. If you would like to purchase a copy, click here.
About the Author
Nikki Tate was born in Birmingham, England, and spent her childhood roaming the globe. She is the author of more than three dozen books for children. Over the years, she’s worked as a book reviewer, a bookseller, a professional storyteller, and a farmer. Nikki’s home base is in the Rocky Mountains, but she loves to travel, particularly if she can find a rock to climb or an ocean to sail.
“I raised my daughter on my own and learned firsthand what a challenge it can be to pursue an unorthodox career,” said Tate. “As a result, I’ve always been inspired by the stories of other single women raising strong daughters. When I first learned about Barbara Moore, the first woman bricklayer in Baltimore, I knew I wanted to write about this still-less-than-common profession.”
About the Illustrator
Katie Kath graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with an MFA in illustration. Some of the books she’s illustrated for children have been recognized by folks like the Bank Street College of Education, the New York Public Library, the Children’s Book Council, and the Junior Library Guild. Katie’s home base is North Carolina, where she plays with her dog and cat, draws cartoons, and counts the days until Christmas.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
-Momma Braga
*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.
