Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bildner, Phil. 2002. Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy. Ill. by C.F. Payne. New York: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy is the story about how a stick of hickory and an old friend helped Joe out of a hitting slump and into the role of one of the greatest hitters in the major leagues. The special relationship that Joe had with his bats is recounted in this picture book for older children. By taking care of his prized possession, his bat that he named Black Betsy, Joe is able to overcome is batting obstacles and have the best rookie year of any player ever.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Phil Bildner tells a lesser known story about a very famous baseball player. By focusing on this portion of Joe Jackson’s career, readers are introduced to another side of a well known baseball figure. The author also weaves a tiny bit of U.S. History into the story with analogies about Andrew Jackson and Betsy Ross. Baseball fans as well as fans of Shoeless Joe will delight in this lesser known but still fascinating tale of the famous player. For readers who are unfamiliar with Joe’s baseball career, this story is a wonderful introduction. The illustrations from C.F. Payne seem to capture the era in which Joe Jackson played ball. The muted colors and soft edges of the pictures take readers to the early 20th Century and provide a realistic feeling of this time period.
At the end of the story the author provides a detailed afterword that supports his story and provides an overview of Joe Jackson’s life and career. He also provides the statistics for Joe’s career. The afterword is good for more advanced readers but is not necessary for enjoyment of the story.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS:

Texas Bluebonnet Award
Young Hoosier Book Award Master List (IN)

From School Library Journal:
Grades 1-5--From the intriguing title to the informative afterword, this picture book will capture the attention of young baseball fans. Told in a folksy, Southern voice, with many of the stylistic elements of a tall tale, it follows Joseph Jefferson Jackson's early-20th-century path between the minor and major leagues. A series of slumps takes him to the door of bat smith Ol' Charlie, who dispenses homespun advice along with his products. The repetition and wry humor of the exchanges between the two superstitious characters pull the legend out of the story. Payne's frequent use of foreshortening highlights the role of Black Betsy (the bat); it also heightens the visual eccentricities of the two friends. The mixed-media illustrations are layered and rich in texture, qualities that add depth and drama. Bildner's bias in favor of his subject is evident in the afterword describing the allegations against Joe and his teammates (a scandal that ended their careers). A page of the hitter's major league and World Series statistics concludes the book. This title is in the same league as David A. Adler's fine Lou Gehrig (1997) and Peter Golenbock's important Teammates (1990, both Harcourt).
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Publishers Weekly:
"One of baseball's greats receives star treatment in this compelling book."