Dr. Toughlove’s Book Club

Play ball! Baseball season is officially here, so Dr. Toughlove thought it was the opportune time to review one of her favorite books, “Dad, Jackie and Me” written by Myron Uhlberg and illustrated by Colin Bootman.

This book invites the reader to turn back the hands of time to the start of baseball season in the year 1947. The Brooklyn Dodger fans were convinced that this was their year to win the World Series. Their spirits were heightened by the arrival of the first black ball player to play in the major leagues – Jackie Robinson.

In this charming story, inspired by the author’s childhood recollections, the protagonist (who is not named in the story) eats, sleeps and dreams about baseball. His baseball glove is his most prized possession. His father, who is deaf and uses sign language to communicate, brings him to Ebbets Field to see the Dodgers in person. The excitement is palpable.

“Dad, Jackie and Me” is a story about triumph over adversity. The protagonist’s dad lived with adversity every day because of his hearing loss; yet he was a loving, kind, attentive father.

Jackie Robinson lived with adversity every day, yet he persevered, played hard and earned the love of his fans and the ire of his detractors. He carried himself with dignity despite verbal abuse and questionable out calls on the field.

Dr. Toughlove was particularly impressed by Colin Bootman’s illustrations. The colors range from very bold to quite subdued, and the contrasts are used to provide interest and additional interpretations. But what was most striking were the facial expressions. Excitement, joy, anguish, embarrassment, and a whole lot more can be seen in the pictures. The opportunities to talk about how the characters might be feeling are endless and can add additional depth to this rich and engaging book.

In addition to a captivating story, at the beginning and at the end of the book, there are newspaper clippings about the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, which originated from a scrapbook the protagonist and his dad compiled. A nice touch which provides additional historical information.

While this book is recommended for youngsters aged 4-8, Dr. Toughlove believes that older children and adults will enjoy reading this book. Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, the themes espoused in this book are universal. “Dad, Jackie and Me” is available at your county library.

Carol Franks-Randall has a doctorate in education and is a retired educator and children’s book author. She lives in Centreville and each month writes children’s book reviews as Dr. Toughlove, one of the protagonists in her first book, “Jamal and Me.”