Synopses & Reviews
At the start of the 1941 baseball season, neither Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees nor Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox were beloved by baseball fans. But that all changed when Joe started a 56-game hitting streak and Ted's batting average rose to over .400. Despite numerous challenges along the way-Joe had his bat stolen by an overeager fan and Ted's batting average dipped to .3995 on the last day of the season-the records set by "Joltin' Joe" and "The Splendid Splinter" have yet to be broken.
New York Times bestselling author of the Sluggers series (with Loren Long), Phil Bildner has written an accessible tribute to two of baseball's greatest heroes. Packed with fun facts and statistics for eager fans to pore over, this book is sure to be a home run!
Review
"Deftly blending surefire ingredients nostalgia, father-son bonding and on-field action Bildner's (Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy) story tells of the 1958 championship NFL game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts, played at Yankee Stadium. But before kickoff, the author provides plenty of compelling pre-game background. After Sam's father loses his factory job, he finds new work with longer hours, and he and his son can no longer attend the games of their beloved New York Giants baseball team. Then comes the devastating news that the Giants are relocating to California. Sam, who sells newspapers at a local store, begins reading about the "other" New York Giants and follows their games on the radio, but Pop appears to have no interest in football. When Sam's boss must let him go, he hands the lad tickets to the championship game, and thus treats father and son to the sports event of a lifetime (despite the fact that the Giants end up losing in sudden-death overtime). Sam also discovers that his father knows far more about these Giants than he has let on. Bildner's informative afterword emphasizes the significance of this game in football history, especially its role in kicking the sport into the national spotlight. Pullen (The Toughest Cowboy) nicely showcases the big names of the era (Unitas and Berry, Gifford and Huff, etc.). An intriguing balance of realism and caricature, his artwork scores a win, especially with its evocations of the ingenuous protagonist's profound emotions."
—Publishers Weekly "For years, professional baseball was the prime sport occupying the national interest of devoted fans. The New York Giants ruled the scene. But when the Giants baseball team moved to California, a great opportunity presented itself. Pro football, a less popular sport at the time, squeezed into the vacant spot and eased its way into the hearts of the television-viewing audience. The Greatest Game Ever Played spins a touching story of a father's unwillingness to accept the sport of football replacing his beloved baseball team, and his son's desire to continue sharing his time and fascination of this sport with his dad. This touching, heartwarming story marks the first ever NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants football teams played on December 28, 1958, resulting in sudden-death overtime. It is still referred to as the greatest game ever played. But what's more important is that it also weaves the touching story of a son's reluctance to give up his time with his father and his father's rediscovery of the joys of sharing this sport with his son. The marvelous illustrations are a study in expressions and mannerisms right down to the steam coming from breaths in the cold air. A great book for fathers to share with their kids." —Children's Literature
"Gr 1-5-This picture book recounts the exciting 1958 NFL championship game as viewed by a young fan and his father. It's been a tough year. Their beloved New York Giants baseball team moved to San Francisco. Pop lost his job; though he's found another, he's working long hours, and Sam misses the time they used to spend together. Even Sam has lost his job selling newspapers, but, as a parting bonus, his boss gives him tickets to the big game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts. Pop declares that he's not interested in football, but as they watch the action on the field, the two are drawn into the thrilling contest. Even as they root for the home team, they can't help admiring the gritty courage of the rival quarterback, Johnny Unitas, who leads the Colts' come-from-behind victory. Pullen's oil paintings capture the tumultuous action and the fans' enthusiastic response. The comically exaggerated facial expressions balance the story's nostalgic mood. An author's note adds facts and helps sort out the game's significance. This is an engaging tale, well told, and a warm portrayal of the bond between sports-loving fathers and sons." —School Library Journal
"A lad and his pop find a way to renew their sports bonding after their favorite baseball team moves away in this engagingly illustrated tribute to a legendary football game. Sam's disappointment when his father's new job prevents them from going to Giants games together is redoubled by the team's move from New York to Los Angeles. Reluctantly, he starts to follow his town's other Giants, the football team, and when he scores a pair of free tickets to its 1958 championship game with Johnny Unitas's mighty Colts, he drags his stubborn father along. Bildner delivers a sketchy but dramatic account of the now-famous contest, but what comes through most clearly is Sam's delight as his dad's enthusiasm rekindles-a delight enhanced by the wonderfully expressive faces in Pullen's meticulous caricatures. Readers will enjoy the period detail, the recognizable-but-even-larger-than-life football heroes on the field and the reminder that shared pleasures are best." —Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Manages to plumb great depths with understated simplicity+Text and art work together beautifully." -
School Library Journal, starred review
"Pictures and words make strong partners here, convincingly communicating a timeless lesson." -Publishers Weekly
"Even young children will understand the fence metaphor and they will enjoy the quiet friendship drama." -Booklist
Review
Praise for The Greatest Game Ever Played:
"An intriguing balance of realism and caricature, his artwork scores a win, especially with its evocations of the ingenuous protagonist's profound emotions."—Publishers Weekly
"Weaves the touching story of a son's reluctance to give up his time with his father and his father's rediscovery of the joys of sharing this sport with his son. The marvelous illustrations are a study in expressions and mannerisms right down to the steam coming from breaths in the cold air. A great book for fathers to share with their kids."—Children's Literature
"This is an engaging tale, well told, and a warm portrayal of the bond between sports-loving fathers and sons."—School Library Journal
" Readers will enjoy the period detail, the recognizable-but-even-larger-than-life football heroes on the field and the reminder that shared pleasures are best."—Kirkus Reviews
"The energy of the paintings perfectly matches Bildner's lively text, which brings to light some great football history to share across generations."—Booklist
Synopsis
The 1958 NFL championship game is known to football fans as the "Greatest Game Ever Played." Featuring gridiron legends like Johnny Unitas, Frank Gifford, and Vince Lombardi, the Game marked the beginning of America’s infatuation with professional football.
Now, Phil Bildner tells a heartwarming father-and-son story against the backdrop of this historic moment.When the New York Giants baseball team moves to San Francisco, young Sam discovers the other New York Giants—the football Giants. He convinces his skeptical Pop to come with him to the Game, and as Johnny Unitas engineers Baltimore’s legendary comeback, Sam and Pop rediscover the joy of rooting on their heroes together.
Synopsis
Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together.
With the addition of a brand-new author's note, this special edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of this classic book. As always, Woodson moves readers with her lyrical narrative, and E. B. Lewis's amazing talent shines in his gorgeous watercolor illustrations.
Synopsis
In a country struggling with acceptance, hope can come in many different forms.
As a boy, Hector loved playing soccer in his small Johannesburg township. He dreamed of playing on a real pitch with the boys from another part of the city, but apartheid made that impossible. Then, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and apartheid began to crumble. The march toward freedom in South Africa was a slow one, but when the beloved Bafana Bafana national soccer team won the African Cup of Nations, Hector realized that dreams once impossible could now come true.
This poignant story of friendship artfully depicts a brief but critical moment in South Africas history and the unique role that sports can play in bringing people together.
About the Author
An avid soccer fan, Phil Bildner has sat on the Real Madrid bench at el Estadio de Santiago Bernabéu, and he has watched from the bleachers as Lionel Messi scored a hat trick during an Argentina-Brazil showdown. Away from the pitch, Phil was an attorney and taught middle school in the New York City public schools. He is the author of the Texas Bluebonnet Awardwinning
Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy, and the co-author with Loren Long of the
New York Times bestselling Sluggers series.
Jesse Joshua Watson has traveled extensively, developing a deep passion for sharing the beauty of the worlds cultures. He has always cared deeply about South Africain high school he campaigned for Nelson Mandelas freedom by organizing awareness and student action. In addition to writing and illustrating books and teaching art to kids, Jesse plays soccer religiously. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington, with his wife and their sons.