Customer Reviews

Jackie's Bat

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My six-year-old son loves sports, and he loved this story about one of his baseball heroes. Along the way, he learned some important lessons about tolerance, kindness, and respect, taught by Lorbiecki's well-drawn fictional bat boy. It's great to find a picture book that works as both a great sports story and an inspiring tale about fighting prejudice that even a six-year-old can understand.

This is a first rate book that has a message without being preachy and remains a children's book; one with substance. I have three kids and I am constantly amazed at how much mediocre, hollow work is out there. This is a well written book, with an interesting message that still resonates today - I wish more children's books hit this book's level of quality. The artwork is first rate as well.

This book doesn't sugarcoat what Jackie Robinson experienced as an African-American player in Baseball. It is an interesting story about a white bat boy who may have his own racist tendencies too. He can't help that he admires and likes Jackie Robinson, but doesn't shine Jackie's shoes like he does the white players and watches the white players mistreat Jackie often. It isn't unsuitable for children but the story does hit home what Jackie may have experienced. I read a book on Hank Aaron yesterday and this book is a good companion to yesterday's story. Great for Black History Month or Baseball season.

This lyrical book is a treasure! It will be added to libraries of import for years to come. It's a life lesson, important for teaching our children how we were, and more importantly, how we can become. Mrs. Jackie Robinson's letter included on the cover was a poignant touch; perhaps she assessed it best. I'll use this book many times, as an example of honed prose, morality, and plain old American history. Thank you Ms. Lorbiecki for sharing your gift with our children.

The artwork in this book is very appealing. The seemingly simple illustrations convey expression and mood. Remarkable.

But...

Jackie Robinson was black.
Jackie Robinson was black.
Jackie Robinson was black...And don't you forget it!

That seems to be the message of this book. Was Jackie nothing more than a black man? Should that be my main takeaway from this book? Jackie was black, really? No other accomplishment gets nearly the emphasis in this book as his skin color. How aggravating -- do we have to just bludgeon that fact home again and again? What a waste of an illustrator's talent - this book could have been so much more.

Some non-standard English grammar ("I ain't never"..." "my dad and me..."). Great illustrations.