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Library | Call Number | Status |
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Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | PICTURE BOOK ADL | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
This biography traces Gehrig's life, from childhood through his illustrious career with the Yankees to his struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his tragic death at age thirty-seven. Expressive illustrations capture the strength, modesty, and dignity for which this remarkable man will always be remembered. "Readers will feel good after reading this biography--and maybe even inspired to start measuring themselves against Gehrig's standard."-- Kirkus Reviews
Author Notes
David A. Adler was born in New York City. He attended Queen's College in New York City and later, earned an MBA in Marketing from New York University.
He writes both fiction and non-fiction. He is the author of Cam Jansen mysteries and the Andy Russell titles. His titles has earned him numerous awards including a Sydney Taylor Book Award for his title "The Number on My Grandfather's Arm," "A Picture Book of Jewish Holidays" was named a Notable Book of 1981 by the American Library Association and "Our Golda" was named a Carter G. Woodson Award Honor Book.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
PW called this picture-book biography of the man who played 2,130 consecutive games for the New York Yankees "a gracious tribute to a stalwart, modest and tirelessly optimistic man. Widener's stylized acrylics vividly re-create the look and feel of major league baseball in the '20s and '30s." Ages 6-9. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Preschool) Cousins's much-loved mouse Maisy appears in her usual bright, bold colors in a simple and effective counting book. The generous-sized pic-tures on white backgrounds will help children find the objects to be counted: one ladybug on the end of Maisy's nose, two flowers in front of Maisy's house, three buckles on her pirate costume....Ten fleas on an elephant pal end the count, and a final spread shows simple rows of flowers in groups of one to ten, with numbers in both numeral and word form. This eye-catching, oversized board book is simultaneously published with the less successful Maisy's Colors, whose concept is regrettably muddied, as the featured color is sometimes difficult to di (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. Kids of today may not immediately recognize the name Lou Gehrig, but they will be immediately drawn into this picture book for older children about the "Iron Horse." Adler sets his narrative stage by telling readers that in 1903, Henry Ford sold his first auto, the Wright brothers took their first flight, and Lou Gehrig was born. Young Lou, who never missed a day of school, became a baseball player who never missed a game. Crisply and concisely, Adler covers the many high points of Gehrig's career, at the same time giving readers a real sense of the man and his shining spirit. Gehrig's illness and eventual death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are handled with dignity and in a way youngsters will understand. The picture-book format gets a lift here from Widener's impressive artwork. Reminiscent of WPA art with its rounded shapes and potent energy, these pictures project a zest for life on and off the playing field. The last spread, showing Yankee Stadium on the day of Gehrig's funeral, awash in rain, provides a silent but powerful ending to Gehrig's story.--Ilene Cooper
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4The simple text tells the story of this New York Yankee great whose record of playing in 2,130 consecutive games stood from 1939 until Cal Ripken, Jr., broke it in 1995. Gehrig is justly portrayed as a humble, self-effacing man. Widener's acrylic paintings sweep across the pages, melding comfortably with Adler's spare writing style while adeptly portraying Gehrig and the era. Young sports fans will read about an athlete and a man whose work ethic and demeanor seem especially appealing in comparison to many of today's over-hyped, self-promoting sports stars. Richard Rambeck's Lou Gehrig (Child's World, 1993) contains more biographical information at a slightly higher reading level and features photographs. Norman Macht's Lou Gehrig (Chelsea, 1992) is a solid choice for those in the upper-elementary and junior high grades.Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The aw-shucks decency of Gehrig drives this picture-book biography from Adler (One Yellow Daffodil, 1995, etc.); what comes through is Gehrig as a genuine rarity, blessed with colossal athletic talent that he carried with dignity and modesty. The familiar story (no sources are given, but it follows the Gary Cooper movie, Pride of the Yankees, quite closely) is here: how Gehrig left college and signed with the Yankees to get money for his family; his remarkable, 14-year, 2,130-consecutive-game record; how he benched himself when he started to experience the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; his farewell speech to Yankee fans (``I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth''); his death at age 37 and the rain that fell on his funeral. Adler never overstates the adulation, which would sound hokey on anyone else's shoulders, but fits Gehrig snugly. Newcomer Widener's illustrations capture the texture of Gehrig's city and playing fields, although one spread--of Yankee Stadium in the rain-- brings the book to a premature close (a dangling page of text follows). Readers will feel good after reading this biography--and maybe even inspired to start measuring themselves against Gehrig's standard. (Picture book/biography. 5-9)
