¡Béisbol! Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends

By Jonah Winter
Paperback: $12.95

In this fascinating and colorfully written collection of profiles, author/illustrator Jonah Winter gives us a guide to Latino heroes, including little known pioneers of the sport.

Front cover for ¡Béisbol! Pioneros y leyendas del béisbol Latino by Jonah Winter and Jonah Winter
This book is also available in Spanish
¡Béisbol! Pioneros y leyendas del béisbol Latino
By Jonah Winter

Description

Baseball, known as America’s favorite pastime, is a favorite sport in Latin America as well. In this fascinating and colorfully written collection of profiles, author/illustrator Jonah Winter — following the success of Fair Ball!, his earlier book on the Negro Leagues — gives us a guide to Latino heroes, including little known pioneers of the sport.

Readers learn stats and anecdotes about fourteen players including Dolf Luque, the Cuban pitcher who became the first Latin American star in the major leagues; Roberto Clemente, the legendary Puerto Rican outfielder of the 1950s and 1960s; and Felipe Alou, the first full-time Dominican star in the majors who later became the first Latin American Manager of the Year. Each profile is accompanied by a stunning portrait rendered to resemble traditional baseball cards. ¡Béisbol! Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends recalls the drama of Latin American stars with all the color, grit, and style that should now be part of U.S. baseball history.

Bruce Markusen Rodríguez (introduction) has been associated with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum since 1995, first as a senior researcher and now as Manager of Program Presentations. He is also the author of numerous articles and books about baseball, including Roberto Clemente: The Great One and The Orlando Cepeda Story. He and his wife live in Cooperstown, New York.

About the Creators

Jonah Winter

Jonah Winter is the author/illustrator of several picture book biographies, including Roberto Clemente: Pride Of The Pittsburgh Pirates, You Never Heard Of Willie Mays?!, and You Never Heard Of Sandy Koufax?!. His other books for children include Fair Ball!: 14 Great Stars From Baseball's Negro Leagues, a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children, and two collaborations with his mother, Jeanette Winter, Diego, a Reading Rainbow book, and Once Upon A Time In Chicago: The Story Of Benny Goodman. Winter lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife. This is his first book for Lee & Low Books.

Awards

  • CCBC Choices

    Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Reviews

  • "[A] welcome addition to any baseball collection."

    - School Library Journal
  • "Sure to appeal to young baseball fans and their parents."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • Winter presents fourteen early Latin American baseball superpowers who collectively clawed their way to U.S. recognition, respect, and finally, acclaim. Although all highlighted players are notable for prowess on the field, the range of national background, professional experience, and name recognition for North American readers is quite broad. . . Winter's text pumps the stats and career hype certain to please browsers and serious readers alike. . . A concluding "Players at a Glance" page summarizes the superlatives, suggesting some strong candidates for a fresh set of sports heroes.

    - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781584302346
  • Publication Date Apr 01, 2013
  • Trim Size 10.5 × 8 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781584300120
  • Publication Date Apr 01, 2013
  • Trim Size 11.5 × 8.5 × 0.5 in
  • Weight 0.875 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Sports & Recreation
  • Themes Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Nonfiction, Occupations, Overcoming Obstacles, Sports, Sports History
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 11
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 6
  • Guided Reading U
  • ATOS Book Level 5.6
  • DRA 44
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 6
  • Lexile Level 1020
  • Reading Level 3
  • SRC 5.6
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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