Jaylen Carter was the best player at Riverside Rec Center, and he knew it.
Tall. Fast. Never missed a catch. When the ball flew anywhere near left field or right field, Jaylen was there first, glove up, crowd cheering - even when the ball wasn't really his to catch.
Nine catches in one game. A new Riverside record. But when Jaylen looked around the dugout for a high five, no one was cheering. His teammates were packing up their bags in silence.
That night, Coach Rosa asks Jaylen a question he can't shake: "How many of those catches should have been Maya's or Emma's?"
In this fourth book in the Big Heart, Big Game series, Jaylen has to learn that being great isn't the same as being a good teammate - and that the loudest cheer of all comes when you make room for someone else to shine.
A warm, honest story about humility, trust, and what it really means to be part of a team - perfect for young athletes ages 5-8 who are learning that a big heart matters more than a big stat line.
Big heart first. Big game follows.
Also in the Big Heart, Big Game series:
Book 1: Theo's First At-Bat
Book 2: Theo's Strikeout
Book 3: Two Outs Big Heart
