Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy

by Phil Bildner, C. F. Payne (Illustrator)

Overview

This inspirational picture book is based on the true story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his bat, two of the greatest players in baseball history.

Some say Shoeless Joe Jackson was the greatest hitter ever. But Shoeless Joe had a partner: his bat, Black Betsy. And if not for the faithful Black Betsy, Joe might never even have made it to the major leagues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689874376
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	03/01/2006
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.50(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Phil Bildner is a former New York City public school teacher who lives in Newburgh, New York. He spends much of his year visiting schools and libraries around the country and world. He is the author of over twenty books including the middle grade novel A Whole New Ballgame and picture books Marvelous Cornelius, The Soccer Fence, The Hallelujah Flight, and Twenty-One Elephants. Along with Loren Long, he is the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Sluggers series. Visit him online at PhilBildner.com.

C. F. Payne has illustrated more than a dozen picture books, including the New York Times bestselling Mousetronaut by astronaut Mark Kelly; the Texas Bluebonnet winner Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy, written by Phil Bildner; and the New York Times bestsellers The Remarkable Farkle McBride and Micawber, both by John Lithgow. He teaches at the Columbus College of Art & Design, where he is the chair of the Illustration Department. Payne lives with his wife and children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit him online at CFPayne.com.

Editorial Reviews

"One of baseball's greats receives star treatment in this compelling book."
— Publishers Weekly

"Will capture the attention of young baseball fans."
— School Library Journal

From the Publisher

According to PW, "One of baseball's greats receives star treatment in this compelling book." Ages 5-8. (Mar.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Slugger Joe Jackson was more than careful with his favorite bat. The book concludes with a short biography about the athlete and a page of his major league statistics. Baseball statistics can be expanded into a math lesson. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Is great hitting in the clean, natural swing of the batter-or the perfectly balanced feel of the bat? As kids know when they start playing baseball, small details must converge just right to overcome the edge between winning and losing, hitting and striking out. Sometimes this translates into superstitions or quirky behavior. First-time author Bildner toes this question in the quirks of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his feared bat, Black Betsy. Joe, who played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1920, does well in the minor leagues, but can't seem to move up without the help of his South Carolina friend, the great bat-maker Charlie Ferguson. While Charlie knows how to make the best bat, it's not hard to decide which needs tweaking more, the bat or Joe's mind so he can finally realize his great potential. From Joe sleeping with the bat to his wrapping it in the cotton of his southern roots, Bildner sticks mostly to the main facts and resists a romanticization of the game. Players who know the perfect, sweeping amalgamation of hand, eye, and sweet spot might expect to hear its dramatic tenor when Joe cracks the ball with Black Betsy, but this is a story finished by statistics. Payne's (Brave Harriet, p. 944, etc.) mixed-media illustrations are gorgeous: the fuzz is in the flannel and the light is just right. And so are his perspectives, angles, and other compositional choices that make for the right mix of mystery and narrative to draw the reader in. A lengthy synopsis of Joe's entire career and his statistics are appended. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews