Swinging Into History

2025 Kansas NEA Reading Circle List“Debut author Karen L. Swanson teams up with the illustrator Laura Freeman to follow Stone from her local park to the Negro leagues… ‘Swinging Into History’… bring(s) attention to (Toni Stone’s) extraordinary contributions to the game…” —The New York Times Book Review“Marcenia ‘Tomboy’ Stone lived, loved, and breathed baseball…Her big break came when she was selected to replace Hank Aaron on the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro League—the first woman to play professional baseball. In an author’s note, baseball enthusiast Swanson expands on the racism and gender discrimination Stone faced. Stone’s words appear on banners across the bold, energetic illustrations by Freeman…as well as those from the press…all of which round out this upbeat tribute. A welcome addition to the annals of women’s sports.” —Kirkus Reviews “The narrative is appealing; well-chosen quotes from Stone are presented on certain pages alongside Freeman’s engaging digital illustrations. From childhood dream to hard-won achievements, Stone’s story unfolds as a picturebook with a happy ending. In the extensive back matter, Swanson makes clear how difficult and demoralizing Stone’s path really was. An inspirational biography for baseball fans.” —Booklist

Karen L. Swanson is the author of an award-winning blog and two health cookbooks. An avid athlete with decades of experience on and at baseball fields, she is inspired by women who break barriers in the medical, business, and sports worlds. Karen worked in product marketing at Pfizer and Procter & Gamble before becoming a writer, and she holds an MBA from Harvard University.

Laura Freeman is the illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including Hidden Figures- The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, which won the Coretta Scott Illustrator Honor and the NAACP Image Award, among other awards. She is also known for her work on the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal.