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Sports/Recreation
Sports/Recreation > athletes
    And Not Afraid To Dare
      This is a collection of short (15-20 page) biographies of 10 African American women: Ellen Craft, Charlotte Forten Grimke, Mary Fields, Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, Clara Hale, Leontyne Price, Toni Morrison, Mae C. Jemison, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
      Author: Bolden, Tonya HSE Descriptors: language arts - reading | social studies

    At Gleason's Gym
      The story of Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn NY, and the many people who use it. It includes a brief story of Sugar Boy Younan, National Silver Gloves Champion 2006. The words and pictures tap into the senses. The illustrations demonstrate the rhythm to the mus
      Author: Lewin, Ted HSE Descriptors: literature and arts | social studies

    Black Hoops: The History of African Americans in Basketball
      This book provides a history of basketball and African Americans in basketball. To help readers understand these issues, the author provides historical backdrops that address racism, segregation, the struggle to desegregate sports, and the civil rights mo
      Author: McKissack, Frederick, Jr. HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson
      An interesting account of fightin' Black Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight of the world in 1910. The prejudicial issues of the era made this a monumental task. Bold words and bold color art combine to create a rhythmic text that captures the ener
      Author: Smith, Charles R., Jr. HSE Descriptors: language arts - reading | social studies

    Century That Was, The
      Each of the 11 chapters of this fascinating look back at the 20th century focuses on a different topic: war, immigration, transportation, politics, religion, the environment, etc. Each chapter is written by a noted young adult author. Several different ty
      Author: Giblin, James Cross (Ed.) HSE Descriptors: social studies | science

    First in the Field: Baseball Hero Jackie Robinson
      This biography of Jackie Robinson, which focuses on his life until he retired from professional baseball, is accompanied by photographs. A timeline that notes African American sports milestones concludes the book.
      Author: Dingle, Derek T. HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Girl Wonder
      This is a very simple retelling of part of Alta Weiss's childhood. Alta pitched for the Vermillion (OH) Independents, a semi-pro baseball team, in 1907.
      Author: Hopkinson, Deborah

    Hammerin' Hank Grenberg: Baseball Pioneer
      The story of Hank Greenberg, first Jewish ballplayer inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sommer explores the world of baseball as it became more inclusive and gives details of how Greenberg was an exceptional player.
      Author: Sommer, Shelley HSE Descriptors: social studies | language arts - reading

    Heart of a Champion, The
      These are short biographies of sports figures who have been featured on Wheaties boxes over the years. Subsections, organized by traits that contribute to success (commitment, grace, courage, team effort, and perseverance) are preceded by short essays abo
      Author: Deford, Frank

    Home Run
      The main text is a simply written, poetic account of one of Babe Ruth's at bats. The vintage-style baseball cards on each page provide additional information about Ruth. The illustrations are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell.
      Author: Burleigh, Robert HSE Descriptors: | math

    Hoop Kings
      A dozen NBA stars provide the focus for these poems. In endnotes, the author describes his writing process.
      Author: Smith Jr., Charles R.

    Hoop Queens
      This is a collection of 12 poems about stars of the WNBA. An afterword explains how the poet found a focus for each poem by considering the woman's play.
      Author: Smith Jr., Charles R.

    Interesting Athletes: Black American Sports Heroes
      This is a collection of annotated newspaper cartoons about African American sports figures. The book is organized into chapters by type of sport. The cartoons originally appeared in newspapers (1930-1980).
      Author: Lee, George

    Lives of the Athletes: Thrills, Spills, and What the Neighbors Saw
      This book offers 20 unusual biographical sketches of famous athletes. The focus is on these people "as people," according to the author, and not just on their athletic feats.
      Author: Krull, Kathleen

    Nation's Hope, A
      An "elegant and powerful picture book biography which centers around the historic fight" of Joe Louis during WWII, where prejudice was set aside. The illustrations and historical tidbits add to this story of an unforgettable legend.
      Author: De La Pena, Matt HSE Descriptors: language arts - reading | social studies

    Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson
      Althea Gibson was perpetual motion and perpetual trouble until mentors helped her channel her energy into tennis where she became a champion, and the first African American to win the Wimbledon. The colorful illustrations capture her boundless energy.
      Author: Stauffacher, Sue HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson
      Althea Gibson was perpetual motion and perpetual trouble until mentors helped her channel her energy into tennis where she became a champion, and the first African American to win the Wimbledon. The colorful illustrations capture her boundless energy.
      Author: Stauffacher, Sue HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Our Century--1920-1930
      This is a series of short articles about life, events, and people who made news in the decade of the 20s. (Teachers should note that no African-American history is reported.)
      Author: Hill, Prescott HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Picture Book of Jesse Owens, A
      This very readable biography tells the life story of Jesse Owens, the 1936 Olympic star, and the prejudice he combated throughout his life. The book ends with a page of notes and a page of dates.
      Author: Adler, David HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow
      The story of Satchel Paige's baseball career told by a fictional baseball player who once batted against Paige. Biographical and historical information are included in a preface and appendix.
      Author: Sturm, James and Tommaso, Rich HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
      Faced with discrimination for being Korean-American in the 1930s did not deter Sammy Lee from wanting to become an Olympic diver - a dream he realized with great determination.
      Author: Yoo, Paula HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
      Faced with discrimination for being Korean-American in the 1930s did not deter Sammy Lee from wanting to become an Olympic diver - a dream he realized with great determination.
      Author: Yoo, Paula HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Story of Baseball, The
      This interesting and readable book provides a history of baseball in the U.S. Lots of fascinating anecdotes are included, photos of baseball stars [past and present] are included, and several chapters focus on the strategies of the game.
      Author: Ritter, Lawrence S.

    Strongest Man in the World, The: Louis Cyr
      The text of this book goes far beyond just being the biography of a famous 20th century strong man, Louis Cyr. It is a description of early health mores and an evolution of the circus concept. Additionally, we learn a little about the other famous circus
      Author: Debon, Nicolas HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Swifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics
      This account of Olympics and Olympians through the years is stunningly illustrated with photographs that capture the action and emotion of the events. An appendix of rich detail includes a map and statistics.
      Author: Macy, Sue HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Twelve Rounds to Glory
      This biographical tribute told in rap-inspired verse captures the life of the "Louisville Loudmouth" who was in so many respects the "Greatest of all Time." This amazing account of Muhammed Ali's life is told in twelve chapters, like a 12 round boxing mat
      Author: Smith, Charles HSE Descriptors: language arts - writing | language arts - reading

    We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball
      This book is about the beginnings and history of Negro League Baseball. The accomplishments of many of the better players are described. Paintings of the players are included. There is a bibliography and filmography at the end of the book.
      Author: Nelson, Kadir HSE Descriptors: | social studies

Sports/Recreation > athletes > Jackie Robinson
    First in the Field: Baseball Hero Jackie Robinson
      This biography of Jackie Robinson, which focuses on his life until he retired from professional baseball, is accompanied by photographs. A timeline that notes African American sports milestones concludes the book.
      Author: Dingle, Derek T. HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Followers of the North Star
      These poems present a profile of African-American heroes in an historical and cultural context. Heroes and heroines include Benjamin Banneker, Harriet Tubman, cowboy Deadwood Dick, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Leontyne Price, and Martin Lut
      Author: Altman, Susan & Lechner, Susan HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Hammerin' Hank Grenberg: Baseball Pioneer
      The story of Hank Greenberg, first Jewish ballplayer inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sommer explores the world of baseball as it became more inclusive and gives details of how Greenberg was an exceptional player.
      Author: Sommer, Shelley HSE Descriptors: social studies | language arts - reading

    Heart of a Champion, The
      These are short biographies of sports figures who have been featured on Wheaties boxes over the years. Subsections, organized by traits that contribute to success (commitment, grace, courage, team effort, and perseverance) are preceded by short essays abo
      Author: Deford, Frank

    Interesting Athletes: Black American Sports Heroes
      This is a collection of annotated newspaper cartoons about African American sports figures. The book is organized into chapters by type of sport. The cartoons originally appeared in newspapers (1930-1980).
      Author: Lee, George

    Story of Baseball, The
      This interesting and readable book provides a history of baseball in the U.S. Lots of fascinating anecdotes are included, photos of baseball stars [past and present] are included, and several chapters focus on the strategies of the game.
      Author: Ritter, Lawrence S.

Sports/Recreation > athletes > Owens, Jessie
    Nazi Olympics, The
      Published by the U. S. National Holocaust Museum, this history documents the manipulation of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin by Hitler and the Nazi party and presents the controversy of whether to participate or not on the part of nations and individuals. Ar
      Author: Bachrach, Susan HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Picture Book of Jesse Owens, A
      This very readable biography tells the life story of Jesse Owens, the 1936 Olympic star, and the prejudice he combated throughout his life. The book ends with a page of notes and a page of dates.
      Author: Adler, David HSE Descriptors: social studies

Sports/Recreation > athletes > Ruth, Babe
    Hey Batta Batta Swing: The Wild Old Days of Baseball
      This light-hearted, information packed story of baseball provides a very readable journey of baseball from its infancy to the present.
      Author: Cook, Sally & Charlton, James

    Hey Batta Batta Swing: The Wild Old Days of Baseball
      This light-hearted, information packed story of baseball provides a very readable journey of baseball from its infancy to the present.
      Author: Cook, Sally & Charlton, James

    Home Run
      The main text is a simply written, poetic account of one of Babe Ruth's at bats. The vintage-style baseball cards on each page provide additional information about Ruth. The illustrations are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell.
      Author: Burleigh, Robert HSE Descriptors: | math

    Our Century--1920-1930
      This is a series of short articles about life, events, and people who made news in the decade of the 20s. (Teachers should note that no African-American history is reported.)
      Author: Hill, Prescott HSE Descriptors: social studies

    Story of Baseball, The
      This interesting and readable book provides a history of baseball in the U.S. Lots of fascinating anecdotes are included, photos of baseball stars [past and present] are included, and several chapters focus on the strategies of the game.
      Author: Ritter, Lawrence S.


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