Summary
Shoeless Joe was given that name because he once played an entire game in his socks. He was in a slump and he knew what he had to do to get out of it. He decided to have a bat made that pitchers would honor and fear. He went to a bat smith and had him make Betsy. He had her dyed black with tobacco juice to make her dark and scary to the opposing team. This book has a lot of facts about “Shoeless” Joe and it is perfect for a young baseball fan.
My Impressions
This is a beautifully illustrated book that really makes Betsy come to life. I enjoyed this book immensely, but I feel that it stretches the definition of “historical.” That is okay though, because I feel that this kind of entertaining book will get kids to read more historical books in the future.
Reviews
This title is in the same league as David A. Adler's fine Lou Gehrig (1997) and Peter Golenbock's important Teammates (1990, both Harcourt).-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
A lengthy afterword discussing Jackson's role in the 1919 Black Sox scandal fails to mention that, while Joe didn't participate in throwing the World Series, most sources agree that he did accept money to do so. Younger children with good attention spans may enjoy hearing this read aloud. --Bill Ott
Booklist
He strews the conversational prose with appealing colloquialisms in a catchy refrain ("sure as the sky is blue and the grass is green"). Payne's (The Remarkable Farkle McBride) portraits take on a tall-tale quality suffused with nostalgia; his strong-featured characters offer a riveting blend of humor and gravity. An afterword fills in the details of Jackson's life and career, including the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Ages 5-8. (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Publisher’s Weekly
Payne's (Brave Harriet, p. 944, etc.) mixed-media illustrations are gorgeous: the fuzz is in the flannel and the light is just right. And so are his perspectives, angles, and other compositional choices that make for the right mix of mystery and narrative to draw the reader in. A lengthy synopsis of Joe's entire career and his statistics are appended. (Picture book. 5-8)
Kirkus Reviews
Usage in a Library Setting
This book would be great for a sports related story time for older children. As discussed in class, some older elementary students enjoy picture books but are not permitted to do so, this book gives them an opportunity. The baseball theme also encourages an audience that might previously not enjoy sitting for a normal story time.
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