Horn Book (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

When Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, there were no other African Americans playing in the major leagues. The thoughtful, brief portrait illuminates the courage and character of an American hero. Appealing watercolors complement the simple text.

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Adler's (A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt, 1991, etc.; Hilde and Eli, above) latest Picture Book Biography tells how a courageous man and outstanding athlete desegregated major league baseball. Jackie Robinson was born in 1919, the fifth child of sharecroppers in Georgia. When his father left to find better paying work and never returned, Robinson and his family moved to California. He became a star athlete in high school and later at UCLA. He played professional football in Hawaii before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was then drafted into the army. Although discriminated against because of his race, Robinson managed to become an officer, and was court-martialed for refusing to sit at the back of a supposedly desegregated bus (he was acquitted). After being released from the army, Robinson was playing with an all-black professional baseball team when scouts for the Brooklyn Dodgers spotted him. In 1947, Robinson began playing for the Dodgers. It was a difficult beginning for him, but in the end he was voted Rookie of the Year. He played for eight more years before retiring. Robinson died in 1972 at the age of 53. Easily read and educational. A fine addition to this notable series. (Author's note) (Biography/Picture book.)"

School Library Journal (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 1-3-A brief look at the life of baseball great Jackie Robinson. The subject's childhood, sporting accomplishments, and later endeavors are touched upon, as are the bigotry and prejudice he faced as the first African American to play in the major leagues. The information is similar to that found in Carol Greene's Jackie Robinson (Childrens, 1990), though Adler's writing is smoother. Casilla's full-and double-page watercolors provide attractive backgrounds for the text. A sound introduction to a significant figure.-Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI