Independent Reading Level: Grades K-4
Awards: None

Independent Reading Level: Grades 1-2

This is the second book in the 'Ordinary People Change the World' series I've read. I can't recommend them highly enough. The drawings are great, the history is well researched, and it's inspiring for both children and adults. Lovely books! ( )

My family loves baseball; all 3 of my sons play baseball and Jackie Robinson is a big figure in our house. This book is wonderful for so many reasons, but the best part is that it tells the story of a great man through the eyes of a child. It is Jackie's story, from his perspective as a little boy, experiencing racism, poverty and the drive that gave his success in the middle of so much adversity. This is a great book to introduce to 2nd and 3rd graders, as it explains in very simple terms, racism and how it hurts others. This would be a book to introduce in a social studies/language arts unit, as a means to have a discussion about racism and how that affects our society. ( )

Jackie Robinson was the youngest of five and was named after Roosevelt. He was bullied as a child. He loved all sports, and he performed very well. Jackie wasn't treated fairly in sports and was doubted because of the color of his skin. He was physically abused by other players while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but that didn't stop him. He paved the way for equality in sports because of his resilience and talent. ( )