Two intrepid librarians

Two intrepid librarians review the best nonfiction books for children

Monday, August 15, 2011

Good Sports by Glenn Stout

Good Sports
Soldier Athletes
by Glenn Stout
Houghton Mifflin. October 2011
ISBN: 9780547417295

Yes, She Can!
By Glenn Stout
Houghton Mifflin. October 2011
ISBN: 9780547417257

Baseball Heroes
By Glenn Stout
Houghton Mifflin. December 2010
ISBN: 9780547517080
Copies of books received from the publisher.

A new series from Houghton Mifflin is geared towards students who can’t get enough information about people who play professional sports. Each title focuses on a particular topic. Baseball Heroes is inspiring life stories of major league athletes who have overcome obstacles in the course of their life and career; Soldier Athletes is about the bravery and self-sacrifice of four athletes who left their blossoming careers to serve in the military; Yes, She Can profiles five women who “refused to be told what they could and couldn’t do” and paved the way so other females could play professional sports.  

In Yes, She Can we read about Trude Ederle, who swam across the English Channel faster than any man who went before her. Louise Stokes and Tidye Pickett were the first two African American female Olympians.  Julie Krone, first female jockey, Danica Patrick, first woman won a Indy car race:  Japan 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan.  (Include in your display of sports books, Let Me Play: the story of Title IX: the law that changed the furture of girls in American by Karen Blumenthal)

Soldier Athletes explains how baseball great Ted Williams, Pittsburg Steeler Rocky Bleier, Chicago White Sox Carlos May, and Arizonia Cardinals Pat Tillman each left a promising career in professional sports to serve time in the military.

The writing is good and engaging. The author neither glorifies nor talks down to his audience. I enjoyed reading the books and I have no interest in sports whatsoever!

My only complaint is the lack of photos. There is one black & white photo at the beginning of each entry. It would have been nice to have included a few more.

The slim paperbacks are geared to readers, ages 9-12. A solid purchase for all libraries.

5 stars

2 comments:

  1. Oh wow, is there anything on basketball? My nine year old is a huge Celtics fan, I'm sure she'd love to read a slim paperback on that. Thanks for sharing this.

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  2. These sound like books my boys (especially) would enjoy! Thanks for the suggestions!

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