The Longest Season
What’s inside...
The Longest Season is a memoir by Cal Ripken Jr., the baseball legend who played 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. The book tells the story of Ripken's record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game, which he played on September 6, 1995, and the emotional and physical toll it took on him. Ripken reflects on his childhood, his rise to the major leagues, and the challenges he faced during his record-breaking streak. He also shares his thoughts on the game of baseball and the importance of perseverance, hard work, and family. The book includes stories about Ripken's relationships with his teammates, opponents, and family members, and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional baseball player. After enduring a nightmare season with a 21-game losing streak, Cal Ripken has to find a way to maintain belief in himself and his team in order to get back on track and win the way he knows he and his team can. The book also includes expressive color paintings from Ron Mazellan, which highlight both the ups and downs of the Orioles' record season.
Age
4-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Cal Ripken Jr.
Discussion points
How did the characters handle challenges during the longest season? What could we learn from them?
What are some ways the team stayed positive despite their struggles? How can we apply that in our daily lives or sports we play?
Why do you think teamwork is important in sports and other areas of life?
How did the characters change from the beginning to the end of the season?
Can you think of a time when you had to keep trying, even when things were tough? What happened?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about personal experiences related to perseverance and teamwork, drawing parallels to the story.
Discuss the importance of resilience—ask your child how the characters’ experiences might inspire them in their own activities.
Highlight the value of teamwork and ask your child to come up with examples of good teamwork from their own life, comparing them with the book.
Explore themes of growth and change, and prompt your child to think how they have grown or changed lately, just like the characters in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: The plot follows a baseball team as they navigate through a losing streak, illustrating how the players cope and eventually overcome difficulties.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of perseverance and staying positive even when facing challenges in school or other activities.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The story highlights how the team works together to improve their performance despite setbacks, emphasizing collaboration and mutual support.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this in group tasks or sports, learning that cooperation and communication are keys to success.
Example Lesson: Sportsmanship
Explanation: The character's interactions demonstrate respect for opponents, acceptance of defeat, and joy in simply playing the game, regardless of the outcome.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to value fair play and respect in competitive situations both in sports and other aspects of life.
Example Lesson: Handling Failure
Explanation: The book shows characters experiencing and dealing with loss, providing a healthy perspective on failure as a natural part of any endeavor.
Real-World Application: It equips children with the mindset to use failures as learning opportunities and not be discouraged by them.
Example Lesson: Leadership
Explanation: As team captain, one character demonstrates leadership by motivating and guiding teammates, showcasing the qualities of a good leader.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to take initiative and leadership roles in group settings, promoting responsibility and confidence.