Book Description
for Promises to Keep by Sharon Robinson
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
“On April 12, 1947, my father, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, stepped out of the Brooklyn Dodgers dugout, crossed first base, and assumed his position as first baseman . . . It was a defining moment for baseball—and for America.” Sharon Robinson tells about her famous father in his many roles, which extended far beyond his extraordinary skill and success as a ballplayer, in this compelling biography. Jackie Robinson’s commitment to social change is framed by a brief history of Blacks in the United States and an account of the work that continues in his name. An accessible text is supported by several timelines, candid photographs, and engaging portions of Robinson’s letters to his family, written while traveling on the road throughout the baseball season. The ultimate portrait is of a man who lived true to his beliefs. As his daughter describes: “...one of the things I admired most about my father was how he stayed in the game until the end. He stood firm even when his opinion wasn’t popular. Whether questioning an umpire or an American president, Dad used his celebrity to challenge an unjust system and support a movement organized to correct the wrongs.” (Ages 9–14)
CCBC Choices 2005 . © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005. Used with permission.