Rosenstock, Barb. 2014. The Streak: How Joe DiMaggio became America's Hero. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek. Ill. by Terry Widener
(Advance Reader Copy)
If you know only one baseball statistic, you likely know its one "unbreakable" record - Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. According to the Author's Note, its probability for occurrence is once every 746 to 18,519 years. It was the most talked about news story of 1941, even edging out news of the war raging in Europe.
Oil-painted illustrations evoke the bygone era; references to new immigrants and mention of the war in Europe place the story in the context of history. However, The Streak is essentially a story of baseball, one man, and his favorite bat, Betsy Ann.
When DiMaggio was up, he strolled to home plate. He didn't pull at his cap, scuff his feet, or make Betsy Ann dance behind his head. He rubbed dirt on his hands, tapped the plate just once, and set his wide-legged stance. For a minute, Joe stood perfectly still, then he and Betsy Ann went to work.The book includes: Author's Note, Statistics, Source Notes, Bibliography, Acknowledgments
Baseball, it's my favorite season of the year. Enjoy The Streak: How Joe DiMaggio became America's Hero, and be sure to take in a baseball game this summer. You may witness history in the making. You never know.
Other reviews at
- Kirkus
- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
- Kids Reads
If you're looking for another great picture book about Joe DiMaggio, the 1941 baseball season, or "the streak," be sure to check out The Unforgettable Season: The Story of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and the Record-Setting Summer of '41.
This YouTube link will let you see Joe DiMaggio's famous swing and hear Les Brown's popular song of the day, "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio."
Today is Nonfiction Monday. Check it out.
0 Comments on The Streak - a review as of 6/2/2014 7:43:00 AM
Add a Comment