The Story of Jackie Robinson - (The Story of Biographies) by Andrea Thorpe (Paperback)

About the Book

"Jackie Robinson was the first Black Major League Baseball player and an important civil rights leader. Before he made history as a pioneer in sports, Jackie was a hardworking kid who loved to play all kinds of ball games. When Jackie was growing up, Black and white sports players in the United States were not treated the same way. Jackie used his amazing baseball talent to help bring all players together and work toward ending the unfair treatment of Black players. Explore how Jackie went from being a thoughtful young boy growing up in California to an American role model and activist"--

Book Synopsis

Discover the life of Jackie Robinson--a story about breaking down barriers for kids ages 6 to 9

Jackie Robinson was the first Black Major League Baseball player and an important civil rights leader. Before he made history as a pioneer in sports, Jackie was a hardworking kid who loved to play all kinds of ball games. When Jackie was growing up, Black and white sports players in the United States were not treated the same way. He used his amazing baseball talent to help bring all players together and work toward ending the unfair treatment of Black players. Explore how Jackie went from being a thoughtful young boy growing up in California to an American role model and activist.

• Independent reading--This Jackie Robinson biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own.
• Critical thinking--Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Jackie's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.
• A lasting legacy--Explore how Jackie Robinson made the world a better place for future generations, including you!

How will Jackie's hard work and dedication inspire you?

Discover activists, artists, and athletes, and more from all across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures like: Misty Copeland, Simone Biles, Babe Ruth, Ella Fitzgerald, and Kamala Harris.

Review Quotes

"The Story of Jackie Robinson is a powerful story written in a practical way to help children from all walks of life appreciate the legacy of Jackie Robinson. The story helps parents to touch challenging subjects with verbiage that little ones can understand, including introducing how life was for Black people in America during that time period. A one-of-a-kind teaching section is Jump Into The Think Tank, where children can answer questions that provoke character building and stretch their imaginations. These provide countless teaching moments for continued education, history reenactments, and sharing between readers." --Christina Garrett, runningamomathon.com

"As a fan of baseball and an amateur Negro League historian, I believe Ms. Thorpe does an excellent job of conveying the greatness of Jackie Robinson--the boy, the athlete, the family man, the activist, and the legend. Jackie did not just simply integrate Major League Baseball; he opened a door for fans to eventually enjoy players from all over the world. The 'think tank' additions are an excellent way to make his story relatable. There are so many jump-off points to a number of events in American history--the Great Depression, Negro League Baseball heroes, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and of course, the integration of Major League Baseball. I look forward to sharing this with every parent of a young reader that I know." --Belinda J. Bullard, MBA, owner and founder of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, http: //blessedheritage.com

"The Story of Jackie Robinson is a home run for young readers! Young readers will learn how hard Jackie worked as a child and adult to become one of the greatest baseball players in the world and what he did to change how he and other Black people were unfairly treated. The colorful and detailed illustrations will help young readers understand this well-written biography of Jackie's life. The Story of Jackie Robinson is a definite winner, and young readers will enjoy this book." --Maureen Bostic

"This book lays out the life of one of the most influential people in the history of the United States. It not only educates us with facts about racism in our country and the civil rights movement, but it also paints the picture of Jackie's life in a unique way. The creativity with how the book is laid out is also super fun." --Lindsey Hein, founder and CEO of SandyBoy Productions

About the Author

ANDREA THORPE has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in Student Personnel Services. During her nine years in public education, Andrea worked as a classroom teacher and guidance counselor, and was recognized as Teacher of the Year. She's currently a wife and the mother of three daughters, whom she's been homeschooling for 11 years.