School Library Journal Review
Guttelle details one outstanding accomplishment of five different major-league baseball Hall of Famers: Babe Ruth's often disputed ``called'' home run, Joe Dimaggio's record 56 consecutive game hitting streak, Jackie Robinson's breaking the major league baseball ``color barrier,'' Robert Clemente's 300th hit and tragic death, and Henry Aaron's 715 home runs that broke Ruth's seemingly invincible record. Each is described in less than ten pages, allowing for little background information about either the feat or the ballplayer. Undistinguished illustrations and stock black-and-white photographs accompany the text. No table of contents or appendices are included. While the book is factually accurate, there is some fictionalizing of thought and dialogue, and the writing style is quite dry despite the inclusion of an occasional exclamatory sentence. Strictly for voracious young baseball fans. --Tom S. Hurlburt, Rio Rancho Public Library, NM (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This book describes in simple, pedestrian language five thrilling moments in baseball history. The subject matter is extremely appealing to baseball fans, and the Hall-of-Famers profiled include African-American and Hispanic players. But it is the subject, not the writing or the art, that carries the book. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4. Using a you-are-there appproach, Gutelle tells about five special moments in the careers of baseball Hall-of-Famers Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Hank Aaron. The present-tense gambit brings plenty of immediacy to the narratives, which, while focused on specific events--DiMaggio's hitting streak, Aaron's 715th home run--jump forward and back in time to provide a competent overview of the player's career. The drama of the moment will grab young fans, many of whom may not be familiar with the exploits of these stars from earlier eras. Solid reading for third-graders, nicely complemented by black-and-white photos and Spohn's evocative watercolors. --Ilene Cooper
