The Babe Ruth Ballet School [Hardcover]

Tim Shortt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996 | Age Level: 4 and up

A humorous story of childhood friendship between a dedicated, professional, nine-year-old Issy Archer, and her home-run-hitting buddy Babe describes a lost chapter in baseball lore, about the time in 1923 when the Babe and the spitball pitcher Issy danced the ballet in Yankee Stadium.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite a dynamite opening line ("The last 9-year-old girl to play Big League baseball was Issy Archer of the 1923 New York Yankees"), this picture book debut quickly unravels. Issy's famous spitball makes her as celebrated a pitcher as her best friend Babe Ruth is a hitter, and the two pal around after games. Issy's secret penchant for dancing, however, puts a strain on the friendship (she's afraid he'll laugh at her). Instead, Babe takes up hoofing himself, crediting ballet lessons for his success on the baseball diamond. The childlike premise gives way to an adult sensibility, evident in the arch narration and in winking references to Ernest Hemingway, but clearest in the art. Shortt renders his figures as troll-like caricatures with oversized heads and foreshortened bodies, giving them sour, creepy expressions. A flatfooted fantasy. All ages.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?This peculiar book features baseball great Babe Ruth and nine-year-old Issy Archer, an aspiring ballet dancer who's also a successful pitcher for the 1923 New York Yankees. The girl and Babe are best friends, and while he at first balks at her desire to dance, he later begins taking lessons himself, which significantly improves his hitting. She finally decides to give up baseball to devote herself to ballet; in Issy's final game, the Babe comes off his sick-bed to hit a home run after which the two dance together into center field. The story starts slowly and never picks up steam. While most of the picture-book set won't be familiar with Ruth, the insertion of the dancing scenes will probably bewilder the few young baseball fans who know his name. The highlight of the book is the outstanding artwork that runs across three-fourths of each double-page spread. The colorful caricatures of Ruth and some of his contemporaries are well rendered and quite expressive in a goofy, deadpan sort of way. For a better mixture of the Babe and fiction try Donald Hall's When Willard Met Babe Ruth (Harcourt, 1996), which is aimed at a slightly older audience.?Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552090302
• ISBN-13: 978-1552090305
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,419,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( R ) > Ruth, Babe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As a granddaughter of Babe Ruth, I love this book!, August 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Babe Ruth Ballet School (Hardcover)

My grandfather Babe Ruth loved children! I know that he would have encouraged children to read this. He believed "baseball is the greatest game in the world and every kid should play it". He also believed, " Everyone should do their best and follow their dreams". He certainly did! It is about friendship and sharing. The story is told in a very imaginative, fun & positve way! It's about a 10 year old girl who is pitching for the Yankees, but dreams of being a a ballet dancer and her best friend is Babe Ruth. I suggest it for girls as well as boys! In fact the first time I saw it, I was appearing at a little league game, and a young boy asked me to autograph it for him. I immediately fell in love with the title, and the illustations looked outstanding! I love how Babe was drawn! Mr. Shortt capured his fun-loving spirit well! I give my blessings!! Enjoy!