Play Ball!: Hank Aaron's Dream

I knew Hank Aaron was a great baseball player who surpassed Babe Ruth's home run record, mainly because he got a chapter in the Little League Library's Baseball's Most Valuable Players, source of most of my baseball lore.  But  Cybil Nonfiction Picture book finalist Matt Tavares told me a lot more about him in Henry Aaron's Dream, following him from his childhood love of baseball through his career in the Negro League, the minor leagues, and the majors.

I didn't know that he played semi-pro in high school, or that he didn't figure out how to bat properly until his twenties, or that he helped push for racial equality in baseball and society.  I enjoyed learning that no one called him "Hank" until he played for the Braves.  The rich, painted scenes and varied text bring all this to life, and hold the attention of even baseball novices like me and the kids.  A has moved it to the top of the nonfiction list. A-

The Amazon link probably gives its tiny kick-back to the Cybils committee.