You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter
André Carrilho (Illustrator)
Age Range: 4 to 9
Cautions: Theme of anti-semitism
Schwartz & Wade, 2009

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Baseball beckons and is as much the sign of spring approaching as carpets of cherry blossoms and tulips popping through the soil. But, baseball is best appreciated when fans, new and old, uncover the rich history of the game and some of its most colorful players. This book is suggested for ages 4-9, but we happen to know many ‘kids’ in their 40s, 50s and beyond who will delight in this book, from its holograph cover to its Brooklyn-style account of baseball’s most famous lefty. Instant classic.

Publisher’s Description:
In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax so amazing. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season-different-firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still “scratchin’ their heads over Sandy,” who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day.

Accompanied by sidebars filled with statistics, here’s a book sure to delight budding baseball fans.

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As Good as Anybody by Richard Michelson
Knopf Books for Young Readers - 2008
Ages 4-8
Cautions: There are images of racists and violence, but tempered well for younger readers

Kiwi Magazine Review:
This book is the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel, who is a rabbi, walking together for civil rights in 1965. Their common goal of equality for all people joined them together and their own experiences with discrimination drove them to resolve to peacefully put forth their mission and not rest until it was achieved.

Publisher’s Desciption
MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel. Their names stand for the quest for justice and equality.

Martin grew up in a loving family in the American South, at a time when this country was plagued by racial discrimination. He aimed to put a stop to it. He became a minister like his daddy, and he preached and marched for his cause.

Abraham grew up in a loving family many years earlier, in a Europe that did not welcome Jews. He found a new home in America, where he became a respected rabbi like his father, carrying a message of peace and acceptance.

Here is the story of two icons for social justice, how they formed a remarkable friendship and turned their personal experiences of discrimination into a message of love and equality for all.

Teacher’s Guide http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375833359&view=tg

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