A lively picture book biography of Ted Williams from a master of the genre — just in time for Fenway Park's centennial.
Ted Williams lived a life of dedication and passion. He was an ordinary kid who wanted one thing: to hit a baseball better than anyone else. So he practiced his swing every chance he got. He did fingertip push-ups. He ate a lot of food. He practiced his swing again. And then practiced it some more. From his days playing ball in North Park as a kid to his unmatched .406 season in 1941 to his heroic tours of duty as a fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, the story of Teddy Ballgame is the story of an American hero. In this engrossing biography, a companion to Henry Aaron’s Dream, Matt Tavares makes Ted Williams’s life story accessible to a whole new generation of fans who are sure to admire the hard work, sacrifice, and triumph of the greatest hitter who ever lived.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Simple facts and stunning artwork
By thewritersjourney
The last .400 hitter in the major leagues. Twice a Triple Crown winner. Military hero. How do you introduce the late, great Ted Williams to a generation that is so far removed from his historic baseball career? Author Matt Tavares gives baseball fans a great tool at passing down the lore of the Splendid Splinter with There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived. A very quick read at only 40 pages, Tavares touches on Williams' youth, his time in San Diego, his arrival in Boston, his service to the country, and his return to Boston after serving as a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War. That's a lot of information to pack into 40 pages, but Tavares does a wonderful job of simplifying the facts for younger readers.My favorite part of There Goes Ted Williams is easily the artwork. Each page contains beautifully painted pictures of Teddy Ballgame hitting home runs, signing autographs, or running away from an exploding airplane. Even if there was not a single word printed on the pages, the book would be worth the cover price for the artwork alone.Recommended for children aged 6-10, There Goes Ted Williams is the book you need to begin teaching youngsters about "the greatest hitter who ever lived."
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
A Human Hero
By Heather (Davidson) Maneiro
This book tells the story of Ted Williams, baseball player and fighter pilot. The gem of this book, I believe, is the author's notes which explain how the author grew up hearing stories about this larger-than-life baseball hitter from his father. He also explains that during his research he found out things he perhaps would rather have not known - Ted's temper, language, and relationship with sports writers. This, of course, simply makes Ted Williams more real and human.A great addition to a spring baseball unit. The author's notes add a human element to the hero - an important lesson for students
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.Buy this book!
By Jeff Carroll
This is my kindergartner's favorite bed-time book - we have read it at least 50 times. The illustrations are great, as is the story, which takes you from Ted's childhood in San Diego, through his magical early years with the Red Sox, then through WWII and Korea, and finally onto his final seasons with the Red Sox. The back page includes Ted's year-by-year statistics, which my little boy studies every chance he gets. Like the author's Babe Ruth book, this book makes both baseball and American history come alive for the little ones. The war scenes are even very well done and not especially frightening. Just a great book for kids to introduce them to one of the greats of all-time - I sincerely wish there were more athlete and historical figure biographies in this vein for 5-to-7-year-olds with an interest in history.
