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You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

Illustrated by Andre Carrilho
Paperback
$8.99 US
9.06"W x 11"H x 0.16"D   | 7 oz | 48 per carton
On sale Mar 08, 2016 | 40 Pages | 9780553498424
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile 830L | Fountas & Pinnell O
In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax such an amazing baseball player. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season—different—firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still “scratchin’ their heads over Sandy,” who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day.

Accompanied by sidebars filled with statistics, this Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year and Booklist Top of the List is sure to delight budding baseball fans.
  • WINNER
    IRA CBC Children's Choice
  • WINNER
    New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
  • WINNER | 2010
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • WINNER | 2010
    Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
  • WINNER | 2010
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
  • WINNER | 2009
    Booklist Children's Editors' Choice
  • WINNER | 2009
    Booklist Top of the List
  • WINNER | 2009
    Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books
  • WINNER | 2009
    Parents Magazine Prize
  • NOMINEE
    North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE
    Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
  • HONOR | 2010
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
Starred Review, Booklist, December 15, 2008:
“Hand this book to kids unconvinced by Koufax’s mind-boggling numbers, or to the ones who know why they’re so mind boggling to begin with.”

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, January 5, 2009:
"Not just a home run, this book is a grand slam."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, February 2009:
“This striking book deserves a wide audience.”
Jonah Winter is the award-winning author of more than forty nonfiction picture books that promote environmental awareness and social and racial justice. Among them are Here Comes the Garbage Barge!; Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality; My Name is James Madison Hemings; Barack; The Founding Fathers!; and Lillian’s Right to Vote, a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award recipient and Kirkus Prize finalist. View titles by Jonah Winter

About

In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax such an amazing baseball player. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season—different—firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still “scratchin’ their heads over Sandy,” who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day.

Accompanied by sidebars filled with statistics, this Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year and Booklist Top of the List is sure to delight budding baseball fans.

Awards

  • WINNER
    IRA CBC Children's Choice
  • WINNER
    New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
  • WINNER | 2010
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • WINNER | 2010
    Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
  • WINNER | 2010
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
  • WINNER | 2009
    Booklist Children's Editors' Choice
  • WINNER | 2009
    Booklist Top of the List
  • WINNER | 2009
    Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books
  • WINNER | 2009
    Parents Magazine Prize
  • NOMINEE
    North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE
    Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
  • HONOR | 2010
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries

Praise

Starred Review, Booklist, December 15, 2008:
“Hand this book to kids unconvinced by Koufax’s mind-boggling numbers, or to the ones who know why they’re so mind boggling to begin with.”

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, January 5, 2009:
"Not just a home run, this book is a grand slam."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, February 2009:
“This striking book deserves a wide audience.”

Author

Jonah Winter is the award-winning author of more than forty nonfiction picture books that promote environmental awareness and social and racial justice. Among them are Here Comes the Garbage Barge!; Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality; My Name is James Madison Hemings; Barack; The Founding Fathers!; and Lillian’s Right to Vote, a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award recipient and Kirkus Prize finalist. View titles by Jonah Winter