On an island called Puerto Rico, there lived a little boy who wanted only to play baseball. Although he had no money, Roberto Clemente practiced and practiced until--eventually--he made it to the Major Leagues. America! As a right-fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he fought tough opponents--and even tougher racism--but with his unreal catches and swift feet, he earned his nickname, "The Great One." He led the Pirates to two World Series, hit 3,000 hits, and was the first Latino to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But it wasn't just baseball that made Clemente legendary--he was was also a humanitarian dedicated to improving the lives of others.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 2–4—This noteworthy picture-book biography celebrates the Hall of Famer's accomplishments, along with the character and courage that have made him a role model to so many fans. A boy describes how his father, uncle, and mother are all inspired by Clemente and what it is they admire: his record-breaking career, his rise from poverty to baseball stardom, his courage in the face of racism. Mami notes that he proved he was a good son and father by interrupting a post-World Series interview, conducted in English, to speak directly in Spanish to his family in Puerto Rico. The narrator observes that he will choose Clemente for "hero day" at school, since he knows the stats, facts, "and I can tell you todo, everything." Perdomo's joyful prose, a catchy mix of Spanish and English, captures the awe and warm affection fans feel toward the player: "Clemente! Clemente!/It's us, tu gente!/Clemente! Clemente!/Prince of the baseball diamante!" Borders and text fonts suggest the athlete's mythic status, while Collier's watercolor and collage illustrations teem with detail and vibrancy. One detail, an airplane, shows up repeatedly, presaging Clemente's tragic death while bringing aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Collier uses layered images to suggest the man's athletic grace and prowess, and his artful compositions place his subject squarely in the center of things. Like Jonah Winter's Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates (S & S, 2005), this winning tribute to a great humanitarian athlete will resonate with a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
From Booklist
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Roberto Clemente played most of his major-league baseball career in the shadow of the slightly older Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Hank Aaron, emerging only in the early 1970s as the premier player in the game. Then tragedy struck. In 1972, Clemente's plane, carrying aid to earthquake victims in Central America, crashed off the shores of his native Puerto Rico. Winter tells the unabashedly inspirational story of how Clemente's passionate love of the game and unrivaled work ethic took him from poverty in Puerto Rico (his first baseball glove was made from a coffee-bean sack) to World Series triumph with the Pittsburgh Pirates and, later, after his death, to near-mythic status as a role model for young Latino ballplayers. Soaked in pastoral greens and browns, Colon's evocatively grainy, soft-focus illustrations, rendered with a mix of watercolors, colored pencils, and litho pencils, capture perfectly the worlds in which Clemente was most at home: the tropics and the baseball diamond. Baseball history brought vividly to life for a younger audience. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates and PR,
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This review is from: Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Hardcover)
A well-written, almost poetically spare introduction to the life of Roberto Clemente. Starts with his life of poverty in Puerto Rico to his climb to the top of the major leagues. Ends with Mr. Clemente's untimely death in an airplane crash when he was transporting relief supplies to earthquake victims. Illustrations capture the feel of the times and experiences as well as the excitement of the sports action. This excellent picture book will introduce another generation to a real hero. Karen Woodworth Roman, Librarians.info
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational - makes a great gift,
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This review is from: Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Paperback)
My son's grandma gave this book to him. They are both huge baseball fans and Roberto Clemente is her hero. It's a wonderful book, and perfect as a gift. The artwork is beautiful and the story is well-done. It's a great, inspirational biography for first-fourth graders to enjoy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!,
This review is from: Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Paperback)
This is a wonderful book. This book is great for all ages. The book deals with many issues which are important for children to start dealing with. The book also stirs a love for the game. I highly recommend it!
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