I really enjoyed this book and feel as though it is very essential, especially for the African American youth. I think it is a good segue for students to learn about Black history. Many kids today have heard the name Jackie Robinson, but does not know why his such a prominent figure in history. He broke color barriers in baseball and this is especially interesting for the sports loving kids. Books like this would be very great for boys especially, who are known to be reluctant readers. I also really like the overall message of the book. The teaching of this figure who showed through his character and craft that he could break one of the biggest sport's barriers.The facts are very meaningful and the variety of pictures not only give you a visual, but help make it less intimidated for readers. Finally the book introduced subtitles, headers, index, and glossary for those looking for a great book to teach informational text as future educators. ( )

Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play baseball. He is an icon in the baseball leagues for doing what he believes in. This biography for kids tells young readers about his life from birth to death. This would be a great introduction book for a lesson on biographies. ( )

The story of Jackie Robinson, from his birth to death, is told in this book. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Jackie is a legendary icon for the civil rights movement. He broke the barriers to do what he loved, which was play baseball.

This book was packed with tons of facts all over the pages. This book would be great to use if students were writing a paper on Jackie Robinson. It would also be great to use to learn about Jackie Robinson during black history month. ( )

This "Time for Kids - Biographies" collection is amazing. I've read 5 of them and every single one was so interesting. You can get a lot of new facts about important people in history but in a simple and playful way. Children would not even notice that they are broadening their common knowledge by reading these books. Highly recommendable for reading non-fiction! ( )

44 pages
5-6th grade
Survey Book
This book is an interesting biography of Robinson’s amazing life. It tells his story from birth to death, focusing primarily on his time as a ball player. With constant asides and footnotes, Jackie Robinson packs as much pertinent information into forty-four pages as possible. His story is told thoroughly and delicately, making sure to explain the diseased racial climate of the mid-twentieth century. My only real criticism would be that the constant thumbnails and footnotes become distracting, and for a child who has trouble concentrating, they could be a hindrance.
Due to the almost “pamphlet-style” organization of this book, I would only use it as a free reading option for my students. It is well-written and informative book, but would be better serve a child who could spend time looking at the pictures and footnotes at his or her own pace. ( )