Robinson, Sharon. The Hero Two Doors Down.

Robinson, Sharon.  The Hero Two Doors Down.  Scholastic Press  2016  202p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-545-80451-6  elem/ms  Historical  fiction  E-BN    

Stephen Satlow and his father love baseball, especially the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Stephen hears a rumor that a black family is moving into his all-Jewish neighborhood, and a few days later he discovers it is Jackie Robinson and his family. This is the story of the two becoming friends, and particularly a misunderstanding between them one December.  Stephen is at Jackie’s house and he helps the Robinsons decorate their Christmas tree.  Jackie asks if the Satlows have their tree up yet. Stephen answers that they don’t have a tree. To the consternation of Stephen’s parents, Jackie delivers a tree to them.  How do they explain that since they are Jewish they don’t celebrate Christmas or have a tree without embarrassing Jackie?  The families have a good laugh over the misunderstanding and remain good friends. This novel was written by Jackie Robinson’s daughter.  The story gives a glimpse of human insight into the life of a baseball legend. 

This title should be popular among baseball lovers and can be read as a supplement to biographies of Jackie Robinson.  It would be a good way to lead reluctant boys into fiction reading. 

Summary: Jackie Robinson moves into Stephen’s neighborhood, and they become friends.  But one December, they have a misunderstanding. Great for boys and all middle-grade readers.   

Jewish-Christian relations-Fiction, Baseball-Fiction.             --Joan Theal

Robinson, Sharon. Jackie Robinson, American Hero.

Robinson, Sharon.  Jackie Robinson, American Hero.    Scholastic Press  2013  48p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-545-56915-0  elm/ms  VG-BNe     

This book offers a fascinating look at Robinson.  The information is well organized and presented in a lively and entertaining manner.  Jackie Robinson was truly an inspiration to an entire nation.  He became the first African American to break the color barrier and play on a major-league baseball team in 1947.  Looking for a man who had the courage not to fight back, Branch Rickey found Robinson, handed him a Dodgers uniform, and history was made.  Written by his daughter Sharon Robinson, this book briefly chronicles Jackie’s life.  He was born in Georgia, and his family moved to California after his father deserted the family.  An exceptional athlete in both high school and college, he was the first four-sport letter-winner at UCLA.  After leaving UCLA in his senior year, he was drafted into the army during World War II.  After his discharge from the Army in 1944, he joined the Negro Baseball Leagues, playing for the Kansas City Monarchs.  In 1947, he began his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, retiring as a player in 1957 and then concentrating on the civil-rights movement until his death.

Each chapter is supported by primary-source material and is enhanced by both excellent color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations.  The book ends with a glossary and an author Q & A.
           

Jackie Robinson                                                   --Susan Ogintz

Lewis and Clark: exploring the American West.

Robinson, Kate. Lewis and Clark: exploring the American West.
Enslow 2010 112p 31.93
Great Explorers of the World (Enslow)
978-1-59845-124-5 ms E-BNS
A complete look at the Lewis and Clark Expedition including the early lives of the two leaders, the expedition, and the impact on the United States and on Native Americans. This complete look at the Lewis and Clark Expedition begins with an episode from the middle of the trip when Lewis encountered several of the local wildlife. It then goes back to some background on the Westward Expansion and the lives of the the two men who would later lead the expedition. Both men were proven military leaders. On the day that France sold the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis started choosing volunteers for the Corps of Discovery. Much detail is included about the boats used, the obstacles overcome, discoveries made, Indian tribes they met, and occurrences along the the way. Whereas Lewis and Clark were in error in some of the assumptions they made about the Native Americans they encountered, their notes, journals and reports are the most extensive compilation of the nearly fifty tribes of the upper Missouri and Pacific Northwest that they met. The journals also record an immense amount of information on the land, flora and fauna of the area. These journals are frequently quoted in this text.
The lively text is enhanced with paintings, drawings and photographs. Extensive chapter notes are provided, along with a timeline, glossary, bibliography and index. Theal, Joan