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Jackie Robinson
A biography emphasizing the childhood of the baseball legend who became the first African American to play Major League baseball.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 21, 2019
I don't think it's as well written as the older COFA books, but I think it's a lot more careful about accuracy and conveying a clear sense of the time than the older books, and the writing is still good.
There is a sense of bitterness and resentment in parts of the book, for absolutely understandable, even obvious reasons, or maybe frustration is a better word. That is also a part of Jackie Robinson's story. It's a story we all should know. Jackie was an amazing, remarkable person, the right man in the right place at the right time, and he had to fight hard . That fight probably shortened his life, and America is a better place because of his work.
I'm reading Robinson's own autobiography now (I Never Had It Made), though, and I am a bit disappointed in three things- there's a rock throwing incident between Jackie and the father of a neighbourhood girl who called Jackie a name and ran in to tattle when Jackie calls her another name right back. When Jackie tells the story, he says he does not remember who threw the first rock. The COFA author says it was the white adult. It's odd to make an authoritative claim about who threw first when Jackie says he doesn't remember. It would not have stood out so starkly if the author had said something like, "Jackie later said he didn't remember who threw the first stone, but it seems to make more sense that the neighbour started it, since he didn't call the police as he threatened.
There's a strange incident in the COFA book where Jackie is running down the street and a white neighbour sitting on the porch comments to his wife that Jackie sure can run fast, and his white wife says something about he's probably running from committing a crime. There is plenty of real, factual material available about the prejudices that Jackie and other black Americans faced at the time. There is absolutely no lack for that kind of material that is also true. It makes no sense to me to just make up an incident in a biography for young children, and it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb since it's unlikely a third party would know what a couple of private citizens said to each other on their front porch 70 years ago.
Jackie talks at length about how much church and one pastor in particular really helped him during his youth, and he credits that pastor with being a strong influence for good in his life, for getting him interested in Bible stories, for excellent counsel and support. The COFA book mentions his church connections once, in a list of reasons why Jackie was really busy during a period in his life when he was playing two sports, working, and teaching a Sunday School class. That's it.
There are a couple other areas where the COFA book says something different than Jackie's own version, but those are the three I thought most significant.
I would still have this book in my home library (and I do), and assign it for reading or at least make it available for young readers, but I'd also read Jackie's autobiography to flesh out some of the details and correct a couple of the areas where Jackie's account is different. It's a good read.
There is a sense of bitterness and resentment in parts of the book, for absolutely understandable, even obvious reasons, or maybe frustration is a better word. That is also a part of Jackie Robinson's story. It's a story we all should know. Jackie was an amazing, remarkable person, the right man in the right place at the right time, and he had to fight hard . That fight probably shortened his life, and America is a better place because of his work.
I'm reading Robinson's own autobiography now (I Never Had It Made), though, and I am a bit disappointed in three things- there's a rock throwing incident between Jackie and the father of a neighbourhood girl who called Jackie a name and ran in to tattle when Jackie calls her another name right back. When Jackie tells the story, he says he does not remember who threw the first rock. The COFA author says it was the white adult. It's odd to make an authoritative claim about who threw first when Jackie says he doesn't remember. It would not have stood out so starkly if the author had said something like, "Jackie later said he didn't remember who threw the first stone, but it seems to make more sense that the neighbour started it, since he didn't call the police as he threatened.
There's a strange incident in the COFA book where Jackie is running down the street and a white neighbour sitting on the porch comments to his wife that Jackie sure can run fast, and his white wife says something about he's probably running from committing a crime. There is plenty of real, factual material available about the prejudices that Jackie and other black Americans faced at the time. There is absolutely no lack for that kind of material that is also true. It makes no sense to me to just make up an incident in a biography for young children, and it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb since it's unlikely a third party would know what a couple of private citizens said to each other on their front porch 70 years ago.
Jackie talks at length about how much church and one pastor in particular really helped him during his youth, and he credits that pastor with being a strong influence for good in his life, for getting him interested in Bible stories, for excellent counsel and support. The COFA book mentions his church connections once, in a list of reasons why Jackie was really busy during a period in his life when he was playing two sports, working, and teaching a Sunday School class. That's it.
There are a couple other areas where the COFA book says something different than Jackie's own version, but those are the three I thought most significant.
I would still have this book in my home library (and I do), and assign it for reading or at least make it available for young readers, but I'd also read Jackie's autobiography to flesh out some of the details and correct a couple of the areas where Jackie's account is different. It's a good read.
October 26, 2008
My 9 and 11 year old boys and I are addicted to this entire series (Childhood of Famous Americans), but we particularly liked the Jackie Robinson, the Albert Einstein, and the Abraham Lincoln. I can always tell if the author really knows kids, if he/she explains something in its historical context for a child of the 21st century, without eliciting a groan from said child. With other books, I am on autopilot to pause the reading in order to explain the significance or sense of something to the boys, but after the third time of doing this, only to read two sentences later the same explanation, I decide being quiet was in order. YEA!
One thing I really enjoy about these books are the moments when my boys literally bug-eye and jaw-drop when we come across a statement that is completely foreign to their world, or a statement that seems so unbelievable
(as in "Jackie Robinson was not the best athlete in his family.") We freak out and say, "No way!!!", and then read to find out why. Such are the best moments of reading with your kids!
One thing I really enjoy about these books are the moments when my boys literally bug-eye and jaw-drop when we come across a statement that is completely foreign to their world, or a statement that seems so unbelievable
(as in "Jackie Robinson was not the best athlete in his family.") We freak out and say, "No way!!!", and then read to find out why. Such are the best moments of reading with your kids!
Read
July 10, 2021There's a timeline and a table of contents for this is a fictionalized biography. Also, a LOT of text which is not going to appeal to some children.
Word Count: 20,633
Page Count: 192
Accelerated Reading level: 5.2 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 45122
Lexile: 690L
May 5, 2025
This is a story about the first African American being a professional sports player in specific baseball.
he was a kind living in Pasadena California during the time where African Americans were discriminated against, He was a very good athlete, he was a player during high school he had the talent to play well in almost every sport he wanted, he played basketball football, and other sports. Then after a time he finish high school,and he join the army to support his country during the world war two after he gets out of the army he gets a opportunity to play for the Brooklyn dodgers a baseball team first he was aware of being the first African American playing baseball, but after he decide to take the challenge of be the first African American playing professional sports. the people loved how he played and it was like they didn't care he was a men of color, doing this he was breaking the color barrier and giving change to future African Americans to play different sports or have more opportunities. This is a very good story that shows us that everything you want to do can be possible,and that you have to never give up.
he was a kind living in Pasadena California during the time where African Americans were discriminated against, He was a very good athlete, he was a player during high school he had the talent to play well in almost every sport he wanted, he played basketball football, and other sports. Then after a time he finish high school,and he join the army to support his country during the world war two after he gets out of the army he gets a opportunity to play for the Brooklyn dodgers a baseball team first he was aware of being the first African American playing baseball, but after he decide to take the challenge of be the first African American playing professional sports. the people loved how he played and it was like they didn't care he was a men of color, doing this he was breaking the color barrier and giving change to future African Americans to play different sports or have more opportunities. This is a very good story that shows us that everything you want to do can be possible,and that you have to never give up.
May 18, 2018
Dunn, Herb History's All-Stars: Jackie Robinson, 172 pages. NON FICTION Simon & Schuster Children's publishing, 1999. $17 Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG (racism); Violence: G.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball n the modern era, breaking the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947. This biography chronicles Robinson's childhood and how his experiences molded him into an athlete and activist.
I liked how it was so real. They went into a lot of detail on how it was for Jackie growing up as an African American. It also displays his journey to being one of the best players in the MLB.
EL - ADVISABLE 7th Grade student reviewer EA
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball n the modern era, breaking the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947. This biography chronicles Robinson's childhood and how his experiences molded him into an athlete and activist.
I liked how it was so real. They went into a lot of detail on how it was for Jackie growing up as an African American. It also displays his journey to being one of the best players in the MLB.
EL - ADVISABLE 7th Grade student reviewer EA
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
May 16, 2022
This was a great book! You always hear so much about what was going on in the world around the 1930s and 40s during the Great Depression and World War II, but this book was so cool because it showed those same events that we all know about but from a different perspective - a black family's perspective. You never really hear about that. You never really think about segregation during those events, but nonetheless they were prevalent.
November 22, 2020
Super story of his life from boyhood till death. Janna was amazed at how unfair his life was because of the color of his skin. Great way to spark curiousity about injustice through a true life story. Although majority of his life was spent in Pasadena, CA he was born in GA. ,
December 14, 2016
I believe this book was a great representation of Jackie Robinson's career, and his startup. The author stated how Jackie was a very athletic boy, he had built his image around sports. He was a three sport athlete, and had broken records in junior college. Jackie overcame racial challenges, and bullies to become a great baseball player.
November 20, 2015
It was a great book,i learned more of Jackie Robinson than i have before.He was a poor kid,10 dollars was like a million to him.Then he joined the pepper street gang,a gang of kids who played a whole bunch of sports.He went to a ping pong tournament to earn money for his mom,that was nice because he won the 10 dollars from being in 1st place.Then in high school he joined almost every sports team,I bet other people wished they were as athletic as Robinson.In high school he played Baseball,Basketball,Football,and track.But the whole world knows Robinson for Baseball.He was the first Black Baseball player in the major leagues.He was given the number 42 and after his career his number 42 got retired forever.
April 14, 2016
I enjoyed the biography Jackie Robinson (Childhood of Famous Americans). The book is all about how Jackie was as a kid and how he made it to the big leagues. In the 1920's Jackie and his family grew up in Pasadena, California. The Robinson's had to deal with racism and poverty. What I like about this book is that Throughout the book you learn new things about Jackie. I bet you didn't know that Jackie's Favorite sports were basketball and football even though he became one of the best and first African American baseball player. I would definitely recommend this book if you like sports and enjoy reading biographies.
February 10, 2010
read it for a school project I am doing with my students... being from Pittsburgh, my hero has always been Roberto Clemente and I adore him. Now I know a lot more about Jackie Robinson and am amazed by his character. A good book to read along with your kids when they are in chapter books.
August 27, 2014
It was amazing. He was the first black to ever go into the hall of fame. When he was a kid he was part of a group called the Pepper Street gang. He once won a ten dollars in a competition of pingpong.
Read
December 12, 2013Easy to read yet very informational
May 2, 2015
I liked it. I'd rate it 4 1/2, but closer to 4 than 5.
Want to read
January 14, 2018hi
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews