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Yogi: the Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra
The life and famous words, such as "it ain't over till it's over," of Major League Baseball player and New York Yankee Lawrence "Yogi" Berra are celebrated in this nonfiction picture book.
Yogi Berra loved his family, his neighborhood, his friends, and, most of all, baseball. He was crazy for it, ever since he was a young kid playing with friends in an abandoned dump. But baseball didn't love him back--at least not at first. Yogi was
different. He didn't have the right look. When he finally made it to the major leagues, Yogi faced pranks and harassment from players, sportswriters, and fans. Their words hurt, but they made Yogi determined to show all that he could do. This book looks at the talents, loves, and inspirational words of this celebrated New York Yankee and American icon, who earned a World Series ring for each finger and made baseball love him back.
Yogi Berra loved his family, his neighborhood, his friends, and, most of all, baseball. He was crazy for it, ever since he was a young kid playing with friends in an abandoned dump. But baseball didn't love him back--at least not at first. Yogi was
different. He didn't have the right look. When he finally made it to the major leagues, Yogi faced pranks and harassment from players, sportswriters, and fans. Their words hurt, but they made Yogi determined to show all that he could do. This book looks at the talents, loves, and inspirational words of this celebrated New York Yankee and American icon, who earned a World Series ring for each finger and made baseball love him back.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 26, 2023
I love Yogi - how he just kept being true to himself - and showed all the doubters that you can always beat the odds if you bet on yourself with your heart and soul. I have baseball cards and a photo signed by Yogi - he is one of my personal heroes - this is a great introductory book for children.
February 8, 2020
When it comes to sports, it’s not a big secret that I don’t really understand nor appreciate sports. I do like basketball and football more than baseball which I put in the category of Golf and watching grass grow. Still, my father is a sports guy. He watches all the games, supports the local high school teams and the ASU college teams. He loves baseball and I could see him appreciating this book a lot.
I grew up hearing the name Yogi Berra and I didn’t know who it was. I knew nothing about this guy accept his funny name. I learned a lot about this Yogi. He got his nickname from a picture his teammates saw of him sitting criss-cross applesauce watching and learning baseball, so they called him Yogi, like in yoga, which I think is fascinating. How cool. Now, I can relate to him through that one thing. He was a catcher and a good one and he was a good hitter. He painted his fingers bright red so the pitcher could see his signs as a catcher - I approve.
The line Barb repeats over and over is that …didn’t love him back, but he kept going, kept persisting. Man, I could use a right huge heap of that kind of gumption.
The best statistic is that the Yankees, the team he was on, went on to win 14 world series in like 21 years. That’s incredible, even I know that. He also had all these funny phrases that are similar to Zen koans. Cool. He was short and there were several teams that didn’t want him because he didn’t fit the baseball player mold.
For someone who doesn’t care for the sport, I thought this was a great biography of an interesting guy who did some amazing things in life. I had fun reading this.
The nephew and I talked of his poppy - my dad, and how he would love this. Nephew isn’t really a sports guy either, he tries sometimes to be in the crowd, but he doesn’t care. His new thing is One direction and learning to dance like Michael Jackson. He made a video of him doing Black and White in his white shirt looking like Harry Styles and he’s got the moves. He knows what’s cool. It’s the best thing ever. Even with that, he thought this was kind of cool too. He thought Yogi being a little weird was cool and he likes that quirky personality. Anyway, he gave this 3 stars.
I grew up hearing the name Yogi Berra and I didn’t know who it was. I knew nothing about this guy accept his funny name. I learned a lot about this Yogi. He got his nickname from a picture his teammates saw of him sitting criss-cross applesauce watching and learning baseball, so they called him Yogi, like in yoga, which I think is fascinating. How cool. Now, I can relate to him through that one thing. He was a catcher and a good one and he was a good hitter. He painted his fingers bright red so the pitcher could see his signs as a catcher - I approve.
The line Barb repeats over and over is that …didn’t love him back, but he kept going, kept persisting. Man, I could use a right huge heap of that kind of gumption.
The best statistic is that the Yankees, the team he was on, went on to win 14 world series in like 21 years. That’s incredible, even I know that. He also had all these funny phrases that are similar to Zen koans. Cool. He was short and there were several teams that didn’t want him because he didn’t fit the baseball player mold.
For someone who doesn’t care for the sport, I thought this was a great biography of an interesting guy who did some amazing things in life. I had fun reading this.
The nephew and I talked of his poppy - my dad, and how he would love this. Nephew isn’t really a sports guy either, he tries sometimes to be in the crowd, but he doesn’t care. His new thing is One direction and learning to dance like Michael Jackson. He made a video of him doing Black and White in his white shirt looking like Harry Styles and he’s got the moves. He knows what’s cool. It’s the best thing ever. Even with that, he thought this was kind of cool too. He thought Yogi being a little weird was cool and he likes that quirky personality. Anyway, he gave this 3 stars.
July 13, 2020
Condensing Yogi Berra's life into a picture book can't be easy, but who better to tackle the task than Barb Rosenstock, who has made a career of such feats? Known as Lawdie during childhood, Lawrence Peter Berra grew up in an Italian section of St. Louis, Missouri called "The Hill." The squat, pudgy kid took to sports like a duck to water, teaming up with a group of friends to build a ramshackle baseball field and join a local league. With a bat in his hands Lawdie was a phenom, and the Stags dominated other teams that had nice fields and uniforms. Lawdie wanted to forgo high school and move directly to semipro baseball, and his older brothers helped convince their parents that he had the talent for a career in the sport. He and Joey Garagiola, a friend from The Hill, signed on to play for an American Legion team, but scouts doubted Lawdie's viability as a Major League prospect. He looked knobby, awkward, and walked with a shuffling gait. Surely there were more promising players.
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
—Yogi Berra
"You can observe a lot by watching."
—Yogi Berra
American Legion coaches weren't sure they could refine Lawdie into a sleek product. He lacked plate discipline, lunging at pitches far out of the strike zone, and had an unconventional running motion. But Lawdie studied the game with the patience of the scholar he'd never been in school; his crosslegged posture while watching teammates play earned him the nickname "Yogi." His physique didn't match the classic image of a ballplayer, but Yogi's performance as a hitter spoke loudly, and the St. Louis Cardinals offered a tryout. They couldn't see past his physical awkwardness, though; the team gave Joey Garagiola a contract, but passed on Yogi. In 1942 the New York Yankees showed interest, but Yogi's pipeline to the big leagues was interrupted by military service for World War II. Yogi served the United States with pride as a gunner's mate, and after the war he smoothly resumed his rise in baseball, dominating the minor leagues as one of the finest hitters in years. In September of 1946 the Yankees called him up to the majors, but success took its own sweet time coming for Yogi.
"If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be."
—Yogi Berra
Fans, journalists, and players mocked Yogi for his physical quirks. He looked nothing like the Yankee stars of the past and present—Bob Meusel, Tony Lazzeri, Waite Hoyt, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio—and couldn't equal their athletic pedigree. Stung by the ridicule, Yogi proceeded to club towering home runs off the best pitchers alive. How do you pitch to a man with hands like lightning and an uncanny knack for discerning balls from strikes? Yogi was as consistent as anyone, but did the most damage as a hitter in clutch moments. His offensive statistics were eye-popping, but Yogi struggled behind the plate as catcher. His handling of Yankees pitchers left something to be desired, and he had trouble throwing out runners on the base paths. Yogi could have gone down in history as just an elite offensive catcher, but he wasn't content with that. Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey helped train him; Yogi worked obsessively to incorporate Dickey's coaching, and by 1949 had become one of the best all-around catchers in baseball. The 1950s were perfectly set up to be Yogi's decade.
"You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going because you might not get there."
—Yogi Berra
Oozing newfound confidence, Yogi treated home plate as his sanctuary, a place he was in complete control. He analyzed opposing hitters and exploited their weaknesses; he carried on casual conversations with them and the umpire as he systematically recorded out after out, propelling his Yankees to perennial championship contention. The stocky young man from The Hill had bloomed into a superstar, and his baseball feats put everyone in awe. In the late 1940s, through the '50s, and into the '60s Yogi reigned as the pinnacle performer at his position, winning three Most Valuable Player awards—almost unheard of for a catcher— and driving the Yankees to ten World Series crowns. His smart yet humble speaking manner made him one of the most popular figures in the game, and after retirement he transitioned to coaching a new crop of young players faced with some of the same hurdles that once held Yogi back. He had learned to ignore insults while listening to critiques that held merit, and Yogi's wisdom helped nurture young baseball talent long after he last took the field as a player. Perhaps the most beloved Yankee of all, Yogi retained a passionate fan base in New York and around the world. He was never considered the greatest to don pinstripes—being part of the same franchise as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle made that an impossible dream—but his legacy stands as tall as anyone's in baseball history. The sport will never see another Yogi Berra.
"It was fun. If I had to do it over again, I'd do it again."
—Yogi Berra
Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra brims with grace, charm, and lessons we can all benefit from. Prejudice toward his body type and unconventional athleticism threatened to exclude Yogi from the ladder of baseball success, but he refused to let ignorance on the part of coaches and scouts prevent him from excelling at the game he loved. In any profession, people have preconceived notions as to how the job must be done, but what matters is results, not how you look while achieving them. Yogi tuned out the negative chatter and proved himself with his bat, zipping around the bases with surprising speed and strategic cunning. He faced increased adversity as he graduated to the highest strata of professional baseball, but kept his poise and continued delivering game-breaking hits. He wasn't handsome and didn't move like a typical athlete, but what Yankees fans and management cared about was winning, and Yogi was the guy who could make that happen.
"How can you think and hit at the same time?"
—Yogi Berra
What did Yogi do when his skills on defense and as a manager of pitchers were exposed as substandard early in his career? He worked with a past Yankee star to recalibrate his game, becoming an all-time great catcher even without a bat in his hands. Yogi carved out a small space to call his own—the area around home plate—and learned to control that space before worrying about anything beyond it. He gradually worked his way outward until his dominion encompassed the entire infield, and he could throw out base stealers as reliably as any catcher who ever played the game. Yogi developed his skills from the inside out, an important concept for anyone wanting to improve themselves and the world. You should clean up and learn to manage your own immediate area before attempting to influence the public sphere. Yogi's ownership of home plate was obvious every time an opposing batter stepped in; it was the Yankee catcher who dictated pace of play and initiated conversation with batters and the umpire. Those who entered Yogi's territory did so as guests, subject to his rules. It's little wonder that he built an unparalleled record of achievement on the baseball diamond.
"I don't care what team you play for or what team you root for, if you love baseball, then you love Yogi Berra."
—Former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada
Was Yogi the greatest catcher ever? By the numbers, some might argue for King Kelly, Mickey Cochrane, Josh Gibson, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, or some other big name, but if you were drafting an all-time team to win a championship, Yogi Berra is the catcher you want. He would deserve to be among the first players drafted at any position if that's your goal. Popular history recalls Joe DiMaggio as the centerpiece of the 1940s Yankees and Mickey Mantle as his counterpart for the '50s and '60s, but Yogi was the "bell captain" of those teams, the guy who received less glory but bore the heaviest burden in the postseason. He couldn't match the Mick's pure productivity, but it was Yogi who made opposing teams nervous; his success set Mantle up to deliver in the clutch as often as he did. Yogi was as key to the Yankees championship dynasty as any player, which is quite a claim to make. Many superstars wilt under the pressure of their own dreams for championship glory, while others seem to have a "clutch gene" that makes them better than ever in crunch time, and Yogi was a member of the latter group. With everything on the line in a World Series game, he's the guy you want at bat for your team.
"It ain't over till it's over."
—Yogi Berra
Barb Rosenstock's reputation in juvenile literature was secure long before this book, but Yogi was my introduction to her. Ms. Rosenstock's storytelling is as good as advertised: lighthearted and factual, it rings true emotionally and is a beacon of wisdom. She hits all the right notes in presenting the real Yogi Berra, an American icon on and off the field. Terry Widener's doughy illustrations are just right for portraying Yogi, and harmonize beautifully with the writing. This is a wonderful, satisfying book I'd consider rating three and a half stars. I'm sure Yogi would have loved it.
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
—Yogi Berra
"You can observe a lot by watching."
—Yogi Berra
American Legion coaches weren't sure they could refine Lawdie into a sleek product. He lacked plate discipline, lunging at pitches far out of the strike zone, and had an unconventional running motion. But Lawdie studied the game with the patience of the scholar he'd never been in school; his crosslegged posture while watching teammates play earned him the nickname "Yogi." His physique didn't match the classic image of a ballplayer, but Yogi's performance as a hitter spoke loudly, and the St. Louis Cardinals offered a tryout. They couldn't see past his physical awkwardness, though; the team gave Joey Garagiola a contract, but passed on Yogi. In 1942 the New York Yankees showed interest, but Yogi's pipeline to the big leagues was interrupted by military service for World War II. Yogi served the United States with pride as a gunner's mate, and after the war he smoothly resumed his rise in baseball, dominating the minor leagues as one of the finest hitters in years. In September of 1946 the Yankees called him up to the majors, but success took its own sweet time coming for Yogi.
"If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be."
—Yogi Berra
Fans, journalists, and players mocked Yogi for his physical quirks. He looked nothing like the Yankee stars of the past and present—Bob Meusel, Tony Lazzeri, Waite Hoyt, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio—and couldn't equal their athletic pedigree. Stung by the ridicule, Yogi proceeded to club towering home runs off the best pitchers alive. How do you pitch to a man with hands like lightning and an uncanny knack for discerning balls from strikes? Yogi was as consistent as anyone, but did the most damage as a hitter in clutch moments. His offensive statistics were eye-popping, but Yogi struggled behind the plate as catcher. His handling of Yankees pitchers left something to be desired, and he had trouble throwing out runners on the base paths. Yogi could have gone down in history as just an elite offensive catcher, but he wasn't content with that. Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey helped train him; Yogi worked obsessively to incorporate Dickey's coaching, and by 1949 had become one of the best all-around catchers in baseball. The 1950s were perfectly set up to be Yogi's decade.
"You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going because you might not get there."
—Yogi Berra
Oozing newfound confidence, Yogi treated home plate as his sanctuary, a place he was in complete control. He analyzed opposing hitters and exploited their weaknesses; he carried on casual conversations with them and the umpire as he systematically recorded out after out, propelling his Yankees to perennial championship contention. The stocky young man from The Hill had bloomed into a superstar, and his baseball feats put everyone in awe. In the late 1940s, through the '50s, and into the '60s Yogi reigned as the pinnacle performer at his position, winning three Most Valuable Player awards—almost unheard of for a catcher— and driving the Yankees to ten World Series crowns. His smart yet humble speaking manner made him one of the most popular figures in the game, and after retirement he transitioned to coaching a new crop of young players faced with some of the same hurdles that once held Yogi back. He had learned to ignore insults while listening to critiques that held merit, and Yogi's wisdom helped nurture young baseball talent long after he last took the field as a player. Perhaps the most beloved Yankee of all, Yogi retained a passionate fan base in New York and around the world. He was never considered the greatest to don pinstripes—being part of the same franchise as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle made that an impossible dream—but his legacy stands as tall as anyone's in baseball history. The sport will never see another Yogi Berra.
"It was fun. If I had to do it over again, I'd do it again."
—Yogi Berra
Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra brims with grace, charm, and lessons we can all benefit from. Prejudice toward his body type and unconventional athleticism threatened to exclude Yogi from the ladder of baseball success, but he refused to let ignorance on the part of coaches and scouts prevent him from excelling at the game he loved. In any profession, people have preconceived notions as to how the job must be done, but what matters is results, not how you look while achieving them. Yogi tuned out the negative chatter and proved himself with his bat, zipping around the bases with surprising speed and strategic cunning. He faced increased adversity as he graduated to the highest strata of professional baseball, but kept his poise and continued delivering game-breaking hits. He wasn't handsome and didn't move like a typical athlete, but what Yankees fans and management cared about was winning, and Yogi was the guy who could make that happen.
"How can you think and hit at the same time?"
—Yogi Berra
What did Yogi do when his skills on defense and as a manager of pitchers were exposed as substandard early in his career? He worked with a past Yankee star to recalibrate his game, becoming an all-time great catcher even without a bat in his hands. Yogi carved out a small space to call his own—the area around home plate—and learned to control that space before worrying about anything beyond it. He gradually worked his way outward until his dominion encompassed the entire infield, and he could throw out base stealers as reliably as any catcher who ever played the game. Yogi developed his skills from the inside out, an important concept for anyone wanting to improve themselves and the world. You should clean up and learn to manage your own immediate area before attempting to influence the public sphere. Yogi's ownership of home plate was obvious every time an opposing batter stepped in; it was the Yankee catcher who dictated pace of play and initiated conversation with batters and the umpire. Those who entered Yogi's territory did so as guests, subject to his rules. It's little wonder that he built an unparalleled record of achievement on the baseball diamond.
"I don't care what team you play for or what team you root for, if you love baseball, then you love Yogi Berra."
—Former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada
Was Yogi the greatest catcher ever? By the numbers, some might argue for King Kelly, Mickey Cochrane, Josh Gibson, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, or some other big name, but if you were drafting an all-time team to win a championship, Yogi Berra is the catcher you want. He would deserve to be among the first players drafted at any position if that's your goal. Popular history recalls Joe DiMaggio as the centerpiece of the 1940s Yankees and Mickey Mantle as his counterpart for the '50s and '60s, but Yogi was the "bell captain" of those teams, the guy who received less glory but bore the heaviest burden in the postseason. He couldn't match the Mick's pure productivity, but it was Yogi who made opposing teams nervous; his success set Mantle up to deliver in the clutch as often as he did. Yogi was as key to the Yankees championship dynasty as any player, which is quite a claim to make. Many superstars wilt under the pressure of their own dreams for championship glory, while others seem to have a "clutch gene" that makes them better than ever in crunch time, and Yogi was a member of the latter group. With everything on the line in a World Series game, he's the guy you want at bat for your team.
"It ain't over till it's over."
—Yogi Berra
Barb Rosenstock's reputation in juvenile literature was secure long before this book, but Yogi was my introduction to her. Ms. Rosenstock's storytelling is as good as advertised: lighthearted and factual, it rings true emotionally and is a beacon of wisdom. She hits all the right notes in presenting the real Yogi Berra, an American icon on and off the field. Terry Widener's doughy illustrations are just right for portraying Yogi, and harmonize beautifully with the writing. This is a wonderful, satisfying book I'd consider rating three and a half stars. I'm sure Yogi would have loved it.
Read
December 29, 2022Barb Rosenstock’s Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra is an excellent introduction to Yogi Berra for young readers. Much of this picture book biography concentrates on Berra’s early life, which usually hooks young readers, but it also thoroughly covers Berra’s baseball career.
Two themes subtly emerge from Rosenstock’s text. First, Yogi loved many things that didn’t love him back: coaches, the St. Louis Cardinals, newspaper publicity, and more. Although Yogi continued to be passionate, he was only embraced consistently by his family and baseball. The second theme is that Yogi Berra did not match the physical stereotype of baseball players, especially the vaunted New York Yankees. He never let the denigration bother him; he just let his excellence on the field speak for itself.
The design of Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra is appealing. Rosenstock’s text is informative and inviitng, and each double-page spread features a Yogi-ism, a quote from Yogi that is both is illogical and wise. Terry Widener’s illustrations capture Yogi’s ungainly athleticism throughout his life, as well as his effervescent personality. Widener’s choice to outline Berra’s image with a distinct white aura helps readers focus on Berra in some of the busier tableaus.
Yogi Berra was such an appealing baseball character, and I wish more young baseball fans knew about him. Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra can help with that gap if we can get it in readers’ hands. This is an excellent picture book to read aloud or feature when opening day comes around.
Two themes subtly emerge from Rosenstock’s text. First, Yogi loved many things that didn’t love him back: coaches, the St. Louis Cardinals, newspaper publicity, and more. Although Yogi continued to be passionate, he was only embraced consistently by his family and baseball. The second theme is that Yogi Berra did not match the physical stereotype of baseball players, especially the vaunted New York Yankees. He never let the denigration bother him; he just let his excellence on the field speak for itself.
The design of Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra is appealing. Rosenstock’s text is informative and inviitng, and each double-page spread features a Yogi-ism, a quote from Yogi that is both is illogical and wise. Terry Widener’s illustrations capture Yogi’s ungainly athleticism throughout his life, as well as his effervescent personality. Widener’s choice to outline Berra’s image with a distinct white aura helps readers focus on Berra in some of the busier tableaus.
Yogi Berra was such an appealing baseball character, and I wish more young baseball fans knew about him. Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra can help with that gap if we can get it in readers’ hands. This is an excellent picture book to read aloud or feature when opening day comes around.
June 4, 2019
I am always so impressed with Barb Rosenstock’s multi-faceted biographies.
You can tell she is a historian because of the accurate and well-represented history of whomever she is writing about as well as the detailed and interesting back matter that is included in her books. This one particularly is impressive with its research notes, statistics, Yogi-isms, and quotes about Yogi.
You can tell she is a master storyteller because her biographies are never dry history but are instead a beautiful narrative that brings the subject and their story to life.
You can tell she is a caring person because of the themes she incorporates within her stories and the people she chooses to write about.
With Yogi, you can tell she is a baseball fan because she represents the sport with the heart that those of us who love baseball can feel.
All of this, paired with an illustrator that brings movement and emotions to life, lends to a very engaging picture book biography!
Full review with Educators' Guide: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
You can tell she is a historian because of the accurate and well-represented history of whomever she is writing about as well as the detailed and interesting back matter that is included in her books. This one particularly is impressive with its research notes, statistics, Yogi-isms, and quotes about Yogi.
You can tell she is a master storyteller because her biographies are never dry history but are instead a beautiful narrative that brings the subject and their story to life.
You can tell she is a caring person because of the themes she incorporates within her stories and the people she chooses to write about.
With Yogi, you can tell she is a baseball fan because she represents the sport with the heart that those of us who love baseball can feel.
All of this, paired with an illustrator that brings movement and emotions to life, lends to a very engaging picture book biography!
Full review with Educators' Guide: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
July 5, 2019
Loved it! "It's never happened in world series history, and it hasn't happened since." Reminded me of another great book I read, called "Driving Mr. Yogi". His witticisms and baseball accomplishments aside, Yogi Berra was a genuine and very nice guy.
February 17, 2019
Not a huge fan of baseball but I’m a definite fan of this book and now Yogi Berra too. My only wish is this book had more photographs added. Well written and really interesting.
December 23, 2019
Ever wonder where the nickname Yogi came from? Love those "Yogi-isms"? I learned so much about Yogi Berra in this beautiful picture book. Kids will love it.
March 12, 2019
Love this book! It will be a staple to read every spring!
March 27, 2019
Potent & charming opening sets up this LOVING tribute to Yogi. Yogi-isms spread throughtout, bold artwork, celebrates a wonderful life. #booktrek
April 15, 2019
I liked how the Yogi-isms were paired with the text. The information at the back of the book is great!
April 30, 2019
I love a good baseball biography
February 1, 2019
A really fine picture book biography of a truly remarkable player AND human being. Barb Rosenstock does a great job of bringing Yogi Berra to a new generation. Her style is conversational and laced with the humor that characterized Berra but I especially appreciate her focus on several other important facets of Berra's life and career. He was a tremendous record-setting player AND he was a sweet, humble kind man who never was overtaken by his fame.
His famous quotes are included and I really valued the effort made to verify the source and accuracy of what is attributed to Berra. Outstanding and extensive back matter includes career statistics, notes on Yogi-isms, bibliography, quotes about Berra, author's note and sources.
Terry Widener's illustrations are really exceptional and appealing.
His famous quotes are included and I really valued the effort made to verify the source and accuracy of what is attributed to Berra. Outstanding and extensive back matter includes career statistics, notes on Yogi-isms, bibliography, quotes about Berra, author's note and sources.
Terry Widener's illustrations are really exceptional and appealing.
Read
August 30, 2019Terrific biography of a beloved baseball hero. I thought I knew a lot about him, but turns out, I did not! The illustrations are great as is the backmatter. Definitely adding this one to my sixth grade unit!
March 22, 2019
A biography that reflects the fun personality of Yogi Berra.
September 8, 2019
This book will appeal to readers of any age! By today’s standard, he was a bully who went on to be one of the greatest catchers of all time!
June 30, 2020
Yogi Berra was the man who loved baseball, but baseball didn’t love him back - until he persevered and overcame personal, cultural, and sports obstacles.
Mostly two-page, expressionistic spreads, with Yogi quotes relevant to the event described in the text on that page. The rounded lines and full shapes resemble Yogi’s distinct appearance. Interesting, descriptive and well-thought out text in simple black font is well-placed on light background. Soft shading and hues with predominance of blue remind the reader of his life-long team, the Yankees. Each image of Yogi has a white outline, helping it to stand out in the layout, reminding the reader that he is indeed a standout player in the history of baseball.
Extensive backmatter includes photos, author’s note, “Yogi-isms,” quotes about him, bibliography, the URL to the ‘Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center,’ and source notes. The author explains that Yogi-isms are difficult to prove, thus providing an important reminder that we cannot always prove exactly what was said or done in the past.
This would be a great book for teachers to use as a mentor text for biographies, to inspire, to spark an interest in baseball legends or for any baseball fans wanting an in-depth look at one of our American heroes.
Mostly two-page, expressionistic spreads, with Yogi quotes relevant to the event described in the text on that page. The rounded lines and full shapes resemble Yogi’s distinct appearance. Interesting, descriptive and well-thought out text in simple black font is well-placed on light background. Soft shading and hues with predominance of blue remind the reader of his life-long team, the Yankees. Each image of Yogi has a white outline, helping it to stand out in the layout, reminding the reader that he is indeed a standout player in the history of baseball.
Extensive backmatter includes photos, author’s note, “Yogi-isms,” quotes about him, bibliography, the URL to the ‘Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center,’ and source notes. The author explains that Yogi-isms are difficult to prove, thus providing an important reminder that we cannot always prove exactly what was said or done in the past.
This would be a great book for teachers to use as a mentor text for biographies, to inspire, to spark an interest in baseball legends or for any baseball fans wanting an in-depth look at one of our American heroes.
March 21, 2026
And now I come to the end of this author's catalog of books. Often by the time I get to the end, I've reached the weakest books - the least known and for good reason. And this one is the only book my local library, Multnomah, didn't have. I read this courtesy of an Interlibrary Loan from the nearby West Linn Public Library, Clackamas County, Oregon.
But this one was just great. Perhaps you must like baseball. Or at least did at one time. At one time I was a New York Yankees fan. And I think I've always known of Yogi Berra.
This one captured Berra as a kid, as a person, as someone who was teased and bullied, and someone who got to play baseball. And is outrageously quotable. Some of the quotes are almost certainly things he said. And some even that he originated.
With good enough art. And really good writing.
This book could be enough to consider baseball as something interesting.
I could list some yogi-isms here - but I'll just quote Barack Obama from the afterword - "Yogi Berra was an American original - a Hall of Famer and humble veteran; prolific jokester and jovial prophet. He epitomized what it meant to be a sportsman and a citizen, with a big heart, competitive spirit, and a selfless desire to open baseball to everyone, no matter their background."
But this one was just great. Perhaps you must like baseball. Or at least did at one time. At one time I was a New York Yankees fan. And I think I've always known of Yogi Berra.
This one captured Berra as a kid, as a person, as someone who was teased and bullied, and someone who got to play baseball. And is outrageously quotable. Some of the quotes are almost certainly things he said. And some even that he originated.
With good enough art. And really good writing.
This book could be enough to consider baseball as something interesting.
I could list some yogi-isms here - but I'll just quote Barack Obama from the afterword - "Yogi Berra was an American original - a Hall of Famer and humble veteran; prolific jokester and jovial prophet. He epitomized what it meant to be a sportsman and a citizen, with a big heart, competitive spirit, and a selfless desire to open baseball to everyone, no matter their background."
July 3, 2025
This is an excellent picture book biography of one of baseball's and sports legendary personalities and players. I really liked the structure of the narrative combined with many of Yogi's quotes. Yogi's baseball career exceeded anything and everything that was expected of him and his mannerisms and personality made him one of the most popular figures in the sport. As a NJ native who grew up near Yogi's home, it was never unusual to see him in local restaurants and businesses where he was always gracious and friendly. This biography will reach a further audience and shed light on his career and personality to another generation.
November 13, 2019
The reason I chose this book is because I have a deep love for sports, but baseball and soccer were always my favorite to play. To see a children’s book like this it was exciting because Yogi was a great player and the story he went through to get to where he was, was even better. The genre is a biography and I think this would be fun to have students read and to a review to see what they got out of it and if I was to read it aloud I think it would be a fun relax book to learn about a different world.
February 26, 2020
A lot of kids today have never heard of Yogi Berra, which is too bad. Perhaps this book will help to fill that gap. Yogi had a unique way with words, but that's okay, as he also had a unique way of playing baseball. His words were memorable, but his record-setting baseball career was even more so, as he played on 14 World Series teams, and was coach or manager for several more.
This is an outstanding book for kids who want to learn about the history of baseball, but also it's a good book for them to learn about the personality traits that made Berra successful.
This is an outstanding book for kids who want to learn about the history of baseball, but also it's a good book for them to learn about the personality traits that made Berra successful.
January 4, 2021
This is labelled a children's book but would make a GREAT coffee table book - if I had a coffee table.
It's a great summary about a great and loveable man and great baseball player.
In the back of the book are basic stats and a bibliography.
Reading about Yogi was a great relaxer during the unique year of 2020.
If you missed it that year, you'll still enjoy reading it any time.
It's a great summary about a great and loveable man and great baseball player.
In the back of the book are basic stats and a bibliography.
Reading about Yogi was a great relaxer during the unique year of 2020.
If you missed it that year, you'll still enjoy reading it any time.
July 1, 2025
About Berra from childhood through his career as a player and then coach and manager. The backmatter includes more biographical information in an author's note as well as photos, career stats and details, and an extensive bibliography.
Throughout the illustrations, Berra is outlined in a way that really sets him apart and feels a little cartoonish or paper doll-ish, which kind of works.
Throughout the illustrations, Berra is outlined in a way that really sets him apart and feels a little cartoonish or paper doll-ish, which kind of works.
October 8, 2019
Well written book about the life of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra! It gives you a great sense of the man he was on and off the field. How even if everyone says you can't a little hard work and belief in yourself goes a long way.
August 16, 2022
Loved this one! The message is great and one that all ages can appreciate. Perseverance, kindness, his passion for his sport and his humility are strong themes. There is a museum mentioned in the credits that is worth a look as well.
March 29, 2025
Baseball is not really my jam. But, who hasn't heard of Yogi Berra and his fascinating turns of speech? I had to check it out. And I must say, I wasn't disappointed. This was good book, lot of fun to read, and extremely informative. Good stuff!
March 14, 2020
An elementary and up picture book biography of baseball catcher Yogi Berra from childhood to awards.
July 15, 2020
This is a great book...illustrations were perfect! I am a big fan now... he is my favorite!
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February 25, 2021Brilliant use of "loved BB but didn't love me" until end, when 'loved me.'
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