In a touching story from Detroit, a man named Chuck Hildebrandt recently tried to return a baseball book he borrowed from his childhood library fifty years ago. The book, called “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars,” was checked out by Hildebrandt when he was just 13 years old. While visiting the Warren Public Library during Thanksgiving, he felt it was finally time to return the book he had accidentally kept for so long.

Now 63 and living in Chicago, Hildebrandt explained that the book got lost among many others during his moves over the years. About five or six years ago, he found the book and saw it still had a library tag with a due date of December 4, 1974. Realizing how long it had been overdue, he decided to return it in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of its due date. He thought the library might enjoy the story and could even use it for some publicity.

When he met with the library director, Oksana Urban, Hildebrandt shared his story and his plan. Although he didn’t get an official response right away, Urban later told the Detroit Free Press that there would be no fines for the overdue book. She mentioned that many people with overdue items often hesitate to return them, but in this case, there was no worry since the book had been taken out of their system a long time ago.

As a way to give back, Hildebrandt decided to turn this unique situation into a chance to help others. He is now trying to raise $4,564 for Reading is Fundamental, a nonprofit group that helps kids learn to read. This amount represents the estimated fine that would have built up over the fifty years the book was overdue. Hildebrandt has already donated $457 to start the fundraising campaign. This story shows how returning a book can lead to something much bigger and highlights the importance of reading and supporting literacy for future generations.

Original news source: Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key terms or phrases from the article without speaking, while the other groups guess what they are. This can include words like “library,” “overdue,” “fundraising,” etc.

– NEWS SUMMARY
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then summarize it in 2-3 sentences. Afterward, each pair will share their summary with the class, focusing on the main points and key details.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a series of statements based on the article (e.g., “Returning overdue books should always have a fine”). Students will move around the room and place a sticker next to the statement they agree with the most. Afterward, hold a class discussion on the different opinions and why students feel that way.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to draw a scene from the article without using words. After they finish, they will present their drawings to the class while explaining their scene and how it relates to the story.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Ask students to think about the future of libraries and reading. In small groups, they will discuss and write down their predictions for how libraries will change in the next 20 years, inspired by the themes of literacy and community support from the article. Each group will share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the book that Chuck Hildebrandt returned to the library?

2. How long did Hildebrandt keep the book before returning it?

3. Why did Hildebrandt feel it was the right time to return the book?

4. What did Hildebrandt find on the library tag of the book he returned?

5. How did the library director, Oksana Urban, respond to Hildebrandt’s return of the overdue book?

6. What organization is Hildebrandt trying to raise money for, and what is its purpose?

7. How much money does Hildebrandt aim to raise for the nonprofit group?

8. In what way does this story demonstrate the impact of returning a book on the community?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a touching story from Detroit, a man named Chuck Hildebrandt recently tried to return a baseball book he (1)______ from his childhood library fifty years ago. The book, called “Baseball’s (2)______ Stars,” was checked out by Hildebrandt when he was just 13 years old. While visiting the (3)______ Public Library during Thanksgiving, he felt it was finally time to return the book he had accidentally kept for so long.

Now 63 and living in (4)______, Hildebrandt explained that the book got lost among many others during his moves over the (5)______. About five or six years ago, he found the book and saw it still had a library tag with a due date of (6)______ 4, 1974. Realizing how long it had been overdue, he decided to return it in 2024 to mark the 50th (7)______ of its due date. He thought the library might enjoy the story and could even use it for some publicity.

When he met with the library director, (8)______ Urban, Hildebrandt shared his story and his plan. Although he didn’t get an official response right away, Urban later told the Detroit Free Press that there would be no fines for the overdue book. She mentioned that many people with overdue (9)______ often (10)______ to return them, but in this case, there was no worry since the book had been taken out of their system a long time ago.

As a way to give back, Hildebrandt (11)______ to turn this (12)______ situation into a chance to help others. He is now trying to raise $4,564 for Reading is Fundamental, a nonprofit group that (13)______ kids learn to read. This amount (14)______ the estimated fine that would have built up over the fifty years the book was overdue. Hildebrandt has already donated $457 to start the fundraising (15)______. This story shows how (16)______ a book can lead to something much bigger and highlights the importance of reading and supporting literacy for future generations.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite childhood book, and why is it special to you?
2. How would you feel if you accidentally kept a library book for many years?
3. Do you think returning an overdue book after many years is a good idea? Why or why not?
4. What is a memorable experience you have had at a library?
5. How do you think libraries can encourage people to return overdue books?
6. Do you like to read books from your childhood? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you found a book you loved from your past?
8. Do you think it’s important to support literacy programs for kids? Why?
9. What is a way you think people can give back to their community?
10. How would you feel if someone returned a book they borrowed from you after many years?
11. Do you think people should be charged fines for overdue library books? Why or why not?
12. What is a way you have contributed to a cause or charity in your life?
13. How would you react if you discovered a hidden talent or passion after many years?
14. Do you think stories like Chuck’s can inspire others to take action? Why?
15. What is a lesson you think we can learn from Chuck’s experience with the library book?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. touching
2. borrowed
3. overdue
4. publicity
5. director
6. hesitate
7. nonprofit
8. fundamental
9. estimated
10. campaign
11. highlights
12. literacy
13. generations
14. unique
15. supporting

Meanings:
(A) The ability to read and write
(B) Emphasizes or makes something stand out
(C) To pause or be uncertain before doing something
(D) A planned series of actions to achieve a goal
(E) Took something with the intention of returning it
(F) Helping or giving assistance to something or someone
(G) Late or past the time it was supposed to be returned
(H) Basic or essential
(I) Causing feelings of sympathy or tenderness
(J) Roughly calculated or guessed
(K) All the people born and living at about the same time
(L) Attention or notice from the public
(M) Being the only one of its kind; different from others
(N) An organization that does not aim to make a profit
(O) A person who manages or leads an organization
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What book did Chuck Hildebrandt try to return to the library?
(a) The Great Gatsby
(b) To Kill a Mockingbird
(c) Baseball’s Zaniest Stars
(d) Moby Dick

2. How long was the book overdue when Hildebrandt decided to return it?
(a) Ten years
(b) Twenty years
(c) Fifty years
(d) Thirty years

3. What was the due date on the library tag of the book?
(a) December 4, 1974
(b) January 1, 1975
(c) November 30, 1974
(d) December 4, 1980

4. What organization is Hildebrandt trying to raise money for?
(a) Reading is Fundamental
(b) The American Red Cross
(c) Habitat for Humanity
(d) The United Way

5. How much money does Hildebrandt aim to raise for the fundraising campaign?
(a) $1,000
(b) $2,500
(c) $5,000
(d) $4,564

6. Where did Hildebrandt find the overdue book?
(a) In a bookstore
(b) At a garage sale
(c) In his attic
(d) Among many others during his moves

7. What did the library director say about overdue fines for the book?
(a) The fines would be waived for a month
(b) There would be no fines
(c) The fines would be $500
(d) The fines would be reduced by half

8. How much did Hildebrandt initially donate to kick off his fundraising campaign?
(a) $100
(b) $457
(c) $250
(d) $50

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Hildebrandt is raising money for a nonprofit called Reading is Fundamental.
2. The library director, Oksana Urban, confirmed there would be no fines for the overdue book.
3. The book he returned is titled “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars.”
4. He aims to raise $4,564, which represents the estimated fine for the lost book.
5. Hildebrandt has already donated $457 to kick off his personal campaign.
6. He decided to return the book in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of its due date.
7. Hildebrandt lost the book again about five or six years ago.
8. Chuck Hildebrandt borrowed a baseball book from his childhood library fifty years ago.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. Why did Chuck Hildebrandt decide to return the baseball book after fifty years?
2. What did Hildebrandt hope the library would do with his story?
3. How did the library director respond to Hildebrandt’s overdue book?
4. What is Hildebrandt trying to achieve with his fundraising campaign?
5. Why is this story important for promoting reading and literacy?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the name of the book that Chuck Hildebrandt returned to the library?
The name of the book was “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars.”

2. How long did Hildebrandt keep the book before returning it?
Hildebrandt kept the book for about fifty years before returning it.

3. Why did Hildebrandt feel it was the right time to return the book?
He felt it was the right time to return the book to mark the 50th anniversary of its due date.

4. What did Hildebrandt find on the library tag of the book he returned?
He found a due date of December 4, 1974, on the library tag.

5. How did the library director, Oksana Urban, respond to Hildebrandt’s return of the overdue book?
Oksana Urban said there would be no fines for the overdue book since it had been taken out of their system a long time ago.

6. What organization is Hildebrandt trying to raise money for, and what is its purpose?
Hildebrandt is trying to raise money for Reading is Fundamental, a nonprofit group that helps kids learn to read.

7. How much money does Hildebrandt aim to raise for the nonprofit group?
Hildebrandt aims to raise $4,564 for the nonprofit group.

8. In what way does this story demonstrate the impact of returning a book on the community?
The story shows that returning a book can lead to raising awareness and funds for literacy, benefiting the community and future generations.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) borrowed
(2) Zaniest
(3) Warren
(4) Chicago
(5) years
(6) December
(7) anniversary
(8) Oksana
(9) items
(10) hesitate
(11) decided
(12) unique
(13) helps
(14) represents
(15) campaign
(16) returning
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. touching
Answer: (I) Causing feelings of sympathy or tenderness

2. borrowed
Answer: (E) Took something with the intention of returning it

3. overdue
Answer: (G) Late or past the time it was supposed to be returned

4. publicity
Answer: (L) Attention or notice from the public

5. director
Answer: (O) A person who manages or leads an organization

6. hesitate
Answer: (C) To pause or be uncertain before doing something

7. nonprofit
Answer: (N) An organization that does not aim to make a profit

8. fundamental
Answer: (H) Basic or essential

9. estimated
Answer: (J) Roughly calculated or guessed

10. campaign
Answer: (D) A planned series of actions to achieve a goal

11. highlights
Answer: (B) Emphasizes or makes something stand out

12. literacy
Answer: (A) The ability to read and write

13. generations
Answer: (K) All the people born and living at about the same time

14. unique
Answer: (M) Being the only one of its kind; different from others

15. supporting
Answer: (F) Helping or giving assistance to something or someone
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What book did Chuck Hildebrandt try to return to the library?
Answer: (c) Baseball’s Zaniest Stars

2. How long was the book overdue when Hildebrandt decided to return it?
Answer: (c) Fifty years

3. What was the due date on the library tag of the book?
Answer: (a) December 4, 1974

4. What organization is Hildebrandt trying to raise money for?
Answer: (a) Reading is Fundamental

5. How much money does Hildebrandt aim to raise for the fundraising campaign?
Answer: (d) $4,564

6. Where did Hildebrandt find the overdue book?
Answer: (d) Among many others during his moves

7. What did the library director say about overdue fines for the book?
Answer: (b) There would be no fines

8. How much did Hildebrandt initially donate to kick off his fundraising campaign?
Answer: (b) $457
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Hildebrandt is raising money for a nonprofit called Reading is Fundamental. (Answer: True)
2. The library director, Oksana Urban, confirmed there would be no fines for the overdue book. (Answer: True)
3. The book he returned is titled “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars.” (Answer: False)
4. He aims to raise $4,564, which represents the estimated fine for the lost book. (Answer: False)
5. Hildebrandt has already donated $457 to kick off his personal campaign. (Answer: False)
6. He decided to return the book in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of its due date. (Answer: True)
7. Hildebrandt lost the book again about five or six years ago. (Answer: False)
8. Chuck Hildebrandt borrowed a baseball book from his childhood library fifty years ago. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧