Thank You, Jackie Robinson: A Heartwarming Novel for Kids (Ages 8-12) About Friendship and Baseball That Heals Grief

by Barbara Cohen, Richard Cuffari (Illustrator)

After Sam's father died, he became so wrapped up in the Brooklyn Dodgers that he could describe every game they'd played in the past four years. Nobody was very interested, until Sam met Davy. They came from different races, religions, and generations. But it didn't take long before they had a friendship that went well beyond baseball.

Genres: Fiction, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Baseball, Childrens, Young Adult

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Barbara Cohen (1932-1992) was the author of several acclaimed picture books and novels for young readers, including The Carp in the Bathtub, Yussel's Prayer: A Yom Kippur Story, Thank You, Jackie Robinson, and King of the Seventh Grade.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exemplary book about the friendship between a young boy and an old man and how Jackie Robinson made a difference to both of them. The book is set in the era when Jackie Robinson was just hired as the first black baseball player in the major league. The friendship is formed between Sammy, a young, introverted Jewish boy and Davy, an old black man who is hired as a cook for his mom’s inn. Their friendship at the beginning is based upon their mutual love for baseball, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson. Their friendship blossoms into one based upon mutual respect and love for one another. Sammy has lost is father and has no good male role model. He’s sustaining himself on egg salad sandwiches and his photographic knowledge of every Dodger’s game. Davy comes along and becomes the friend Sammy needed and, more importantly, the role model he required so desperately. Color never plays a role in Sammy’s and Davy’s friendship and this theme sends a strong message to the young reader of this fantastic book. It is a great book with a great life lesson about friendship and tolerance. :)

[Gina]

Thank you, Jackie Robinson tells about the story of a ten-year old boy, Sam Green, who befriends a sixty-year-old black man Davy who's hired as the cook at his mother's inn. Both share a passion for the Brooklyn Dodgers, which brings together a beautiful story of an unlikely friendship that is wonderful. Davy is soon to die and his love for baseball is indescribable. One day Sam gets an autographed signed baseball by legendary baseball player, Jackie Robinson. Although, Davy was soon to die Sam wanted to make Davy's last days memorable. For a literacy lesson, I would have students to write a letter to someone that has done something special and what made it special?

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from my childhood still holds up years later. As a kid, I was drawn to this book because of baseball, but it stuck with me because of how it handles loneliness, prejudice, friendship, and loss. Barbara Cohen was masterful in how she wrote for children on these topics without talking down to them.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam is shy and has a hard time making friends. No one seems to appreciate Sam's one gift: he can recite the play-by-play for every game the Dodgers have played in recent history. Then Davy comes to work at Sam's mother's inn. Finally Sam has someone to share his love of the Dodgers with. This is the story of how Sam, a ten-year-old Jewish kid, got to be best friends with a sixty-year old negro, and in the process met Jackie Robinson.

A great tie-in to character counts and the fairness pillar.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 3-5? 125 pgs

1950s, Winterhill, NJ. Sam had never found anyone else who was as obsessed with the Brooklyn Dodgers as he was until he met Davy. He met Davy when he became the cook at his mother's inn. Together with Davy's daughter and her husband, they go and watch the Dodgers play. When Davy gets sick, Sam is determined to do something to cheer him up.

Great story for baseball lovers.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant story about a ten-year old boy who befriends a sixty-year-old black man who's hired as the cook at his mother's inn. They both share a passion for the Brooklyn Dodgers--which brings together a beautiful story of an unlikely friendship that is wonderful to witness as the reader!

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was so sad! I felt like crying because, well he dies!!!!!!!
That is just sad. And they were such good friends!
Fiction or not, it's still really sad and painful to lose a friend
(Ps I did not want to put any spoilers!)

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

really good so far i think it is touching

[M]

Beautiful friendship between a young Jewish boy and an older African American
male, hired as help to work for the young lads mother. They share a common interest in baseball.

[Judy Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then I pick up a kid's book that looks lonely on the shelf. This one, written back in 74, with one of those dated three color covers appealed to me anyway. Speaks to my love of baseball and anything 1940s. When Sammy makes his first trip to Ebbets Field, he says "Far below me the grass was greener than any grass I had ever seen." I remember thinking that the first time I went to Fenway, and I'm still taken aback by the vivid colors every time I go. This is a good read about a Jewish kid obsessed with the Dodgers and his friendship with the cook at his mother's inn, an older black man who shares the same passion.

[Kelly S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an excerpt from this while in elementary school years ago and never forgot it. This story has so much to share; examples of kindness, hard work, and hope. It also shows how to look beyond differences and focus on our common qualities in order to build respect and lasting friendships. Every student should be reading this story.

[Jennifer Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but definitely needs to be read with an adult. This was written in a different era and some of the words and language used needs to be discussed with children.
Some sad parts dealing with death and saying good-bye when we're not ready.

[MFRMOR]

Hmmm..I feel like cussing is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugly also it bad cuz (spoiler)















































DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from minor language throughout, this book was great! Very well written, although a little odd that a 125 page book would have no chapters...

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Greene loves Dodger's baseball and Jackie Robinson. He can recount every action of every inning the Dodgers have played in the past 3 years. He suspects that this isn't normal and wonders if he is nuts. Sam doesn't divulge his love for baseball or his talent for remembering games until his mother hires Davy, a 60-year-old black man, to cook at the family’s Winter Hill Inn. When Sam finds out that Davy loves the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson as much as he does, Sam happily divulges his secret. Every chance they get, the two listen to the games together on the radio. Davy takes Sam to see his first home game at Ebbets Field. The next season, Davy decides that they should see the Dodgers play at other fields so he talks his son-in-law, Elliot, into taking them to Shibe Park in Philadelphia and Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The third season proves to be Jackie Robinson's best. Unfortunately, Davy has a heart attack that puts him in the hospital. Sam decides that an autographed baseball will help his friend recover so he goes to Ebbets Field on his own with a new baseball in hand.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Eve Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how we acquired this book - maybe someone’s Little Free Library? It’s dated yet surprisingly woke considering. A spectrumy teen boy in the 1950s befriends an older black man over their love of their Brooklyn Dodgers and their appreciation for what Jackie Robinson meant to the team and the whole sport. Unexpectedly heavy because Davy dies at the end.

[Cole83]

im reading it right now

[Dianna Weglarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the historical perspective. Great relationship between Davy and Sam.