Product guide

Barbed Wire Baseball: Illustrated Historical Picture Book

Historical: Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss and Yuko Shimizu tells the story of Kenichi Zenimura, a Japanese American baseball player who brought the game to an World War II internment camp. This illustrated picture book connects baseball with the history of Japanese American incarceration and offers a story of hope in difficult circumstances.

At a glance

A picture-book account of Kenichi Zenimura, described as a pioneer of Japanese American baseball.
Follows Zenimura from childhood ambitions to building a baseball community in an internment camp during World War II.
Illustrations by Yuko Shimizu use Japanese brush-and-ink artwork with digitally layered dusty colors.
Listing identifies the story as based on true events.

Price

$3.99Save 60%

Reference price: ~~$9.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Combines a baseball story with historical context about Japanese American internment, which can support discussion across sports and history.
The picture-book format and illustrated narrative are aimed at younger readers, with a listed grade range through grade 6.
Digital listing reports screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip.

Technical specifications

13 specifications

Book details
Publisher	ABRAMS Books for Young Readers
Publication date	March 8, 2016
Language	English
Print length	51 pages
ISBN-13	978-1613124932

Reading guidance
Grade level	Preschool - 6
Reading age	1 - 12 years

Digital edition
File size	81.7 MB
Screen Reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Not Enabled
Word Wise	Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

What to know before buying

The listed reading age spans 1–12 years and the grade range is Preschool–6, but the subject is wartime incarceration. Adults may want to consider a child's readiness for this history and read together.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Young readers interested in baseball biographies and Japanese American history.
Families and educators seeking an illustrated book to introduce World War II incarceration and its effects.

Less suited to

Readers looking for a detailed adult history or a baseball statistics reference rather than an illustrated children's narrative.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 75 ratings

5 stars79%79%
4 stars14%14%
3 stars5%5%
2 stars0%0%
1 star2%2%

The listing shows a mostly positive aggregate rating, with many five-star ratings and a smaller share of lower ratings. Because no written customer-feedback summary is provided, the rating alone cannot identify specific strengths, concerns, or explain why readers responded as they did. Buyers can judge the book's fit from its illustrated historical subject and the listed children's reading ranges.

Frequently asked questions

What is Barbed Wire Baseball about?

It tells the story of Kenichi Zenimura, who brought baseball to a Japanese American internment camp during World War II.

Who created Barbed Wire Baseball?

The book is by Marissa Moss and illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.

What age or grade does the listing recommend?

The listing gives a reading age of 1–12 years and a grade range of Preschool–6. Because the story concerns wartime incarceration, an adult may wish to help younger children understand the subject.

What digital reading features are listed?

The digital edition lists screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip. X-Ray is listed as not enabled.