Synopses & Reviews
An inspiring true story of a boy genius.Plowing a potato field in 1920, a 14-year-old farm boy from Idaho saw in the parallel rows of overturned earth a way to “make pictures fly through the air.” This boy was not a magician; he was a scientific genius and just eight years later he made his brainstorm in the potato field a reality by transmitting the worlds first television image. This fascinating picture-book biography of Philo Farnsworth covers his early interest in machines and electricity, leading up to how he put it all together in one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. The authors afterword discusses the lawsuit Farnsworth waged and won against RCA when his high school science teacher testified that Philos invention of television was years before RCAs.
Review
"I was lucky to play in the big leagues with my brother as a teammate and my dad as our manager. It was a very special time. The story of the Acerra brothers brought those memories back. It is a wonderful illustration of what a great game baseball is and how it brings families together on many different levels.
Brothers at Bat is a story any baseball fan will enjoy and one that we all should know."--Hall of Famer
Cal Ripken, Jr. "A captivating story, impeccable layout, and glorious illustrations make this historical account an unqualified winner." --New York Times Book Review
"With a sense of humor, Audrey Vernick tells the true-life story of the 12 Acerra boys of Long Branch, NJ, who formed a team coached by their dad." --USA Today
"A remarkable story." --Wall Street Journal
"A lively story about family loyalty and love of the game, pulled from the sidelines of baseball history." --Publishers Weekly, *starred review*
"A delight not to miss." --School Library Journal, *starred review*
"[A] story of brotherly--and baseball--love." --Booklist, *starred review*
"Vernick's wry and rousing narration is perfectly matched by Salerno's mixed-media pictures."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, *starred review*
"Employing descriptive, conversational language in a matter-of-fact tone that doesnand#8217;t sentimentalize, Vernick tells of a remarkable family . . . Salernoand#8217;s lively drawings, rendered in black crayon, gouache, watercolor and pastel with digital color added, complement the action, striking a balance between detail and expansiveness.A family's love and devotion to each other and to the game of baseball, depicted lovingly." --Kirkus Reviews
"This story of a real American family whose bond was the game is brought to vivid life through illustrations." --Horn Book Magazine
"For those who love baseball, history and family stories, this book hits a home run."--Shelf Awareness, *starred review*
"Striking black crayon, gouache and watercolor paintings enhanced with digital color provide a solid backup to the tightly written narrative. A very pleasing slice of American history." --Cleveland Plain Dealer
A NewYork Times Notable Book for 2012
A 2012 Booklist Editor's Choice
Review
"By the second spread, with miners working in their long johns or, discreetly, "in the vanilla," listeners will be thoroughly hooked. The humor is broad and the language inventive, yet reminiscent of the times."--
Kirkus Reviews and#160;
"Johnston creates an unrepentantly exaggerated version of events that is sure to entertain, offering more factual information about Strauss in an author's note. Using a bright idea of his own, Innerst (Lincoln Tells a Joke) chronicles the raucous action in acrylic paintings on a canvas of, yes, old Levi's jeans. The denim's texture provides an appropriately rugged tone to the colorful proceedings."--Publishers Weekly,and#160;starred review
and#160; "An outlandish whopper of a tall tale, this story just begs to be read aloud with an old-timey Western accent. Johnston weaves together fact and fiction, resulting in a hilarious narrative about how Strauss became the denim king... A first choice for any collection, this book is worth its weight in denimand#8211;or gold."--School Library Journal, starred review
and#160;
"Johnston antes up the readaloudability with traditional tall-tale banter and a bold-faced "Dang!" every time Strauss gets a brainstorm. Innerst extends the fun by painting the sartorially challenged miners on, what else, blue jeans, craftily leaving the blue untouched for jeans, tents, chalkboards, ocean, and bay, and letting flat-felled seams do double duty as the floor of a covered wagon or the roadway of the Golden Gate Bridge."-Bulletin
Synopsis
This fascinating picture-book biography of Philo Farnsworth covers his early interest in machines and electricity, leading up to how he put it all together in one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. Includes an Afterword by the author. Full color.
Synopsis
Wild West chaos and creative problem solving are the force behind a well-loved American institution. Whatand#8217;s a California miner to do when gold dust sifts right out of his holey pockets? With such a raggedy wardrobe, he may as well be mining in the vanilla (that is, his birthday suit)! Good thing Levi Strauss is out west, ready with his needle and a head full of bright ideas. With some quick thinking, quicker stitching, and handy arithmetic, Levi keeps all the gold rushers clothedand#8212;and becomes a modern American hero. A Wild West tall tale, Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea celebrates creativity, innovation, and the ubiquitous item that fills the closets of grateful jeans wearers worldwide.
Synopsis
The amazing true story of the Acerra family from New Jersey, whose 12 boys formed their own semi-professional baseball team in the 1930s. The team was the longest-running all-brother team in historyand#160;and is honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Synopsis
The Acerra family had sixteen children, including twelve ball-playing boys. It was the
1930s, and many families had lots of kids. But only one had enough to field a baseball
team . . . with three on the bench! The Acerras were the longest-playing all-brother
team in baseball history. They loved the game, but more important, they cared for
and supported each other and stayed together as a team. Nothing life threw their way
could stop them.
Full of action, drama, and excitement, this never-before-told true story is vividly
brought to life by Audrey Vernickand#8217;s expert storytelling and Steven Salernoand#8217;s stunning
vintage-style art.
About the Author
Tony Johnston's many acclaimed picture books include
My Abuelita, a Pura Belprand#233; Honor Book, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, and
The Worm Family, illustrated by Stacy Innerst.
Stacyand#160;Innerstand#160;is an award-winning editorial artist and the illustrator of several picture books, including Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer's Lincoln Tells a Joke and Krull's M is for Music. www.stacyinnerst.com