JACKIE’S BAT

Joey is the batboy for the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, and he is unsure of how to deal with Jackie Robinson. His father says that a white boy shouldn’t have to serve a black man. So he doesn’t shine Jackie’s shoes, and he ignores his requests. As the season progresses, Joey notes the changing reactions of Jackie’s teammates, players on the other teams and the fans around the league, both black and white. He comes to admire and cheer Jackie’s patience and talent and to respect him as a man. Telling the story from Joey’s point of view and the use of the immediate present tense places the focus on Robinson’s impact on peoples’ hearts and minds. Pinkney’s watercolor illustrations also focus on the characters, with backgrounds softly sketched. An afterword and author’s note give additional information about Robinson’s character and life after baseball. A gentle message about the insidious nature of racism. (Picture book. 6-9)