Jackie's Bat (Hardcover)

by Marybeth Lorbiecki (Author), Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4–A fictionalized account of Robinson's first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, as seen through the eyes of Joey, a batboy. He has attended games with his father since he was a toddler, and he's been a fan of dem bums for years. He meets the star player in the locker room on Robinson's first day as a Dodger, and though the man is friendly, Joey remembers that Pops says, it ain't right, a white boy serving a black man. He gives the first baseman the cold shoulder and refuses to clean his shoes as he does for the other players. As Joey watches Robinson endure the prejudice of fans and players on other teams, he comes to admire him both as a ballplayer and a man. Eventually, both the boy and Pops admit that he earned his place in history. An afterword gives more information on Robinson's career and legacy. Pinkney's watercolor illustrations, awash in bright hues and expressive details, enliven the characters with sinewy, curvaceous lines. The slight story is saddled with a simplistic ending, but it merits praise as a thoughtful lesson in tolerance; teachers, in particular, will appreciate it as a jumpstart for discussion.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 1-3. In March of 2005, Myron Uhlberg paired with illustrator Colin Bootman to recount the Jackie Robinson story from the perspective of Uhlberg's father, a deaf man who drew personal inspiration from Robinson's stoic endurance of prejudice during the landmark 1947 season ( Dad, Jackie, and Me). Now, Lorbiecki and Pinkney tell the fictional story of the Dodgers' new batboy, Joey, whose father doesn't believe a young white kid should be shining the shoes of a black man. Joey tries to reflect his father's views, but he is quickly won over by Robinson's skill on the field and his gentlemanly behavior in the locker room. Lorbiecki tells the story directly, with little moralizing, and Pinkney's evocative watercolors are nicely integrated with the text and vividly capture young Joey's growing respect for Robinson. Unfortunately, the illustration of Robinson hitting his first home run shows Jackie jammed by the pitch--a pop-up would surely have been the result of that swing. Still, Pinkney's signature style is much in evidence here and will certainly please his many fans, young and old. Children may also enjoy Carin Ford's biography of Robinson, reviewed on p.68. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (January 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689841027
• ISBN-13: 978-0689841026
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #720,590 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home Run for Jackie's Bat, January 3, 2006

By	Michael V. (Maryland) - See all my reviews

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Children's book , December 26, 2005

By	James B. Carlen (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Take on Racism and Jackie Robinson, February 4, 2008

By	Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.