The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton

The team behind Brothers at Bat (2012) returns with another exuberant story drawn from baseball history. As a child in the 1920s, Edith Houghton wouldn't let the fact that she was 10 keep her from trying out for the all-female Philadelphia Bobbies: "Edith was so good she made the team. Edith was so good she was named starting shortstop." At 13, Houghton traveled with the Bobbies to Japan, where they held their own against male, college-level teams. Choice quotations from Houghton bring her personality and love of baseball to vivid life, while Salerno's mixed-media artwork channels the footloose energy of the Jazz Age, especially during the Bobbies' trans-Pacific trip, as the players jitterbug in the ocean liner's ballroom and practice on its deck "under a sky of endless blue." Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 3—Vernick provides another entertaining and informative introduction to a little-known baseball legend. Edith Houghton, born in 1912 in Philadelphia, became a female baseball player at the age of 10. Playing with women who were older than herself, she traveled as far as Japan. Later, she became the first woman hired as a scout for a professional baseball team. While the story itself is fascinating, Vernick excels at highlighting the more noteworthy aspects of the athlete's life with her attention to detail. When describing the team's sea voyage to Japan, she points out the fun the teammates had dancing and socializing, once they overcame their seasickness. However, the heart of the story is Houghton's recollections of her youthful experiences. Appended is a postscript of Houghton's later life along with photographs—a satisfying touch. Created from charcoal ink and gouache, the colorful and lively illustrations complement the text. Especially well done is Salerno's occasional use of the contrast between sepia and color tones, which accentuates the more important aspects of the page. This book should especially appeal to those who enjoyed Vernick and Salerno's Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team (Clarion, 2012). VERDICT The compelling story and energetic illustrations make this an excellent addition.—Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA

2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List

"Salerno's mixed-media illustrations are a lively amalgam of action and scenic panorama..."
-Bulletin