Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Jackie Robinson: Baseball’s Great Pioneer
Illustrator: Bob Lentz
Nonfiction Graphic Novel Series
For ages 8 to 12
Capstone Press, 2005 ISBN: 978-0736846332
Jackie Robinson was born in Georgia but his mother soon moved her family to California where she hoped she would be able to give her little son a better life, a life that was not clouded by the misery of segregation and racism. Jackie grow up to be an active boy. Like so many others young boys he wanted to fit in, and for a while he was a member of gang. Thankfully he had family and friends who encouraged him to take up sports and soon he was too busy, and too successful, to get into trouble.
As a young man Jackie decided to become a professional football player, hoping that this was a career in which the color of his skin would not matter as much. Then Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked and Jackie was drafted into the army. He soon discovered that it was not easy being an African-American in the armed forces and he fought hard against the unfair treatment that he and his fellow soldiers were forced to live with.
Eager to get out of the army, Jackie decided to try a career in baseball. Once again he found that he had to battle against racism on a regular basis. This time however, Jackie did not back down or give up. This time Jackie was determined to show the world that an African-American could and should be allowed to play on any team in the country.
This inspiring story is a favorite with baseball fans and this graphic novel format will make the story of how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the world of baseball very accessible to young readers.
