★ ”Rosenstock transports readers to the summer of 1941, when war loomed and DiMaggio set a new MLB record with a 56-game hitting streak, uniting a nation. . . Rosenstock builds delicious tension and emotion as the streak grows. . . and Widener is equally in his element–one can almost feel DiMaggio’s baggy Yankee pinstripes rustling as he dashes to first base after yet another hit. . . A rousing and inspiring account of an athletic achievement that has yet to be bested.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak is considered one of the greatest feats in baseball and the one least likely to be replicated. . . Rosenstock’s game descriptions capture the momentum and let readers see and feel the events as if they were at the games. . . Widener’s expansive, double-page illustrations, rendered in acrylic on bristol paper, in earth tones of green and gold, are larger than life, elongating DiMaggio as he takes his stance, rounds the bases or grips his bat. . . DiMaggio’s remarkable hitting streak is freshly presented for a new generation of fans.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Rosenstock cranks up the significance of DiMaggio’s 56-game, as yet unbeaten hitting streak, in 1941. She does this through a dramatic season recap with the rising game numbers in red, and by taking note of the war tensions that heightened in parallel that summer. Joltin’ Joe’s game bat, nicknamed Betsy Ann, practically becomes another character, and the tale of its theft and recovery midcourse further raises the suspense. Widener, who has illustrated a number of picture books about great baseball players of the past, supplies green-and-gold acrylic action scenes featuring both the lanky batter and, often, contemporary newspaper headlines about the streak and the war. . . ” —Booklist
“Placed within the historical context of the last perfect baseball summer before America’s involvement in World War II, Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak of 1941 becomes even more impressive. Rosenstock also captures the drama surrounding the feat: how a player from humble beginnings with hands that were used to hard work now held a bat, how DiMaggio named his bat “Betsy Ann” and only used it for games, and how the bat was stolen on the very day he was to break the previously held record. An occasional phrase in bold red type adds to the superhero quality of the story, while the slightly blurred acrylic illustrations make the characters seem as if they were captured in motion, creating a nostalgic effect. Detailed souce notes, a lengthy bibliography, and lots of stats round out the presentation.” —School Library Journal
“With Terry Widener’s lovely, fluid paintings, author Barb Rosenstock mixes history, biography and romantic nostalgia.” –USA Today
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