First on the Field: Baseball Hero Jackie Robinson

Information for Students

Author: Derek T. Dingle Title: First on the Field Baseball Hero Jackie Robinson

Book Genre: Biography Publishing Info: Hyperion pp. 48

Summary: Jackie Robinson a man of great talent. In high school and college, he broke many records in baseball, football, track, and basketball. He was a great athlete with one society-based contradictory characteristic he was African American. His determination and competitive energy helped break the barrier of discrimination. He set and paved the way for other African American athletes to play in the major leagues. Jackie Robinson a legendary baseball player who faced much diversity, which gave him a place in history.

Personal Rating: ****

Rationale: Well written, capturing illustrations and photographs, inspirational plotted biography, determined and competitive character, racism and discrimination problems.

Information for Teachers

Reading Level: 6.4 Interest Level: 4^th-9th

Thematic Areas: African Americans; courage; honor; baseball; families; social structures; prejudice; racism

Content Areas: History; sports; psychology; discrimination; bibliography

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Print is very small and hard to read on some pages.

Possible Use in Classroom: Students will dress up as one of the athletes or people mentioned in the book. One student will be Jackie Robinson and the other students will prepare interview questions for Jackie. Students should select questions that they think the character that they are dressed up as would ask Jackie (staying in character). The class will discuss racism and the students will discuss the racism and prejudice that Jackie endured. In groups of two, the teacher will assign an athlete to the students that the book mentions, students will use the internet to research that person. Students will make a collage of their assigned athlete including pictures and facts about that person.

Angie Blair