Reviews

All Star!: Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever by Jane Yolen, Jim Burke

johnnymacaroni's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this book and I did not think I would! Before reading this book I didn't know anything about Honus Wagner except that he was an old-timey baseball player. I learned that he was an exceptional athlete...big and strong with stamina and he bowed legs did nothing to stop him! He was a stand-up guy and saw himself as a role model which is why his card is so rare-when he discovered it was included with cigarettes he had the cards pulled. He was a family man and a hard worker no matter what he was doing from hauling coal to playing just about every position in baseball to coaching. Usually I am not interested in sports but Yolen's writing keeps this story interesting and exciting and I enjoyed reading every word of it. The illustrations complement the story perfectly. Great read for history buffs and sports fans alike.

pwbalto's review against another edition

5.0

Yolen's bio, unlike some sports biographies that focus on a single event or character trait in an athlete's life, gives us Mr. Wagner's story from birth, through an astonishing twenty-one seasons of major-league ball, on to his retirement and Hall of Fame induction. She paints a portrait of the original lovable lug, a bow-legged coalminer's boy with long arms whose youthful strength came from loading coal.

Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/03/all-star-by-jane-yolen-review.html

beecheralyson's review against another edition

5.0

A nice picture book biography on the life of Honus Wagner - a famous baseball player. Great illustrations and nice flow to the story.

bookarian's review against another edition

4.0

baseball shortstop, sports history, excellent research, good breaks between pages using repetitious phrase as end-stop,

beecheralyson's review

5.0

A nice picture book biography on the life of Honus Wagner - a famous baseball player. Great illustrations and nice flow to the story.

tashrow's review

This is the story behind the most valuable baseball card in the world. Honus Wagner was born to a poor coal mining family and began working in the mines himself at age 12. He had Sundays off and would play baseball after church. He was strong from working in the mines, very fast despite his bowed legs, and could snag balls with his long arms. At 16, Horus joined the semipros. His brother was already playing professional ball. As his career progressed, he became one of the most unforgettable players in history. But even that is not what made his baseball card so valuable. You will just have to read the book to find that out!

Yolen uses beautiful, evocative language in her verses. At the same time, her verse reads in a frank, honest way. The language is not flowery, but lends depth to the book as a whole. Burke’s illustrations are done in oil on board. He has captured the time period with grace and style. His paintings often show unique perspectives that make the book very interesting visually.

The book touches on many issues, including child labor in the coal mines and the power and importance of sports. Yolen is especially fine when speaking about the power of sports. This is a fine book about a legend in baseball but it offers more appeal and interest than that thanks to its fine execution.

A book for baseball fans, certainly, but others will enjoy the story of a legend too. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Philomel.