Starred review from February 13, 2017
In an engagingly conversational narrative laced with baseball lingo, Winter (You Never Heard of Casey Stengel?!) vividly traces Mickey Mantle’s trajectory from a small child with a bone disease to one of America’s most beloved baseball players. But even with success, he struggled. Winter explains how Mantle, after becoming a Yankee, famously damaged his knee on the field during the World Series (“the moment that would change his life”) but went on to amass numerous records, “though every swing of the bat caused excruciating pain.” Payne’s (Miss Mary Reporting) handsome pencil-and-acrylic artwork blends 1950s naturalism with touches of caricature, while Winter keeps his focus on the man behind the records: “ knew Mickey wasn’t perfect. But they also knew that to watch a guy do what he did, with that body, could take your breath away.” Ages 4–8.
Mickey Mantle was a gifted, talented white baseball player who was admired and truly loved by his fans.Winter recounts how Mantle grew up in a poor Oklahoma mining community, where his father saw baseball as his son's future. He was named for a ballplayer, drilled in baseball skills, and taught to be a switch-hitter. He overcame a serious bone disease that nearly led to a leg amputation and became an amazing athlete, incredibly fast and powerful. He wanted to be the greatest player ever; he wanted to be perfect. In his first world series with the New York Yankees, he sustained an injury that caused him pain for the rest of his life. But, in spite of the pain, he sent home runs flying out of stadiums and set many records, some still in place. He never felt he lived up to what was expected of him, but to fans, teammates, and even opposing players, he was simply wonderful. Winter tells the story of Mantle's baseball feats and mishaps with obvious affection, using a colloquial voice that helps maintain the icon's humanity. He puts a positive spin on his relationship with his parents and omits many personal difficulties and challenges, though he briefly mentions them in an author's note. Payne's softly drawn acrylic-and-pencil illustrations nicely capture events and emotions. Endpapers show Mickey's No. 7 set in Yankee pinstripes. A loving perspective on a beloved Yankee hero. (Picture book/biography. 7-10) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from December 1, 2016
Gr 2-5-The cover image of a steely-eyed Mickey Mantle, bat aloft over his shoulder, sets the stage for an intimate look at the Hall of Famer. Mantle (1931-95) shattered records but struggled throughout his life to live up to expectations. ("Where Mickey came from, you had to be strong-tough, too.") Mantle battled childhood injuries and illness, but his father was determined to train him to be a ballplayer. In his teens, Mantle "shot up like Jack's beanstalk" and signed with the Yankees the day he graduated from high school. After a stint in the minors, he arrived in New York along with news of his speed and hitting prowess. He was slated to replace the great Joe DiMaggio ("The torch was being passed. [GULP] Greatness would be expected."). Winter relates the ups and downs of Mantle's career with zest: "Oh, if only, if only, Mickey could have stayed the way he was on that day, forever young, forever healthy, forever limitless in what he could do." Instead, there were slumps and injuries, including the horrific knee injury in the second game of the 1951 World Series. Mantle battled back: "What Mantle had was EMOTION, a FIRE inside that caused him to CRUSH the ball." Payne's mixed-media illustrations convey emotions and character. In one spread, DiMaggio and Mantle pose for photographers: well-mannered DiMaggio a half-step behind Mantle, who smiles shyly, eyes distant. Payne varies perspective to great effect: an image of Mantle's famous "tape-measure home run" zeroes in on the ball at the apex of its flight, with the ballpark far in the distance. VERDICT Highly recommended for school and public libraries, this nuanced look at one of baseball's iconic players has lessons for fans young and old.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 15, 2016
Grades 2-4 Winter, the author of picture-book biographies such as Joltin' Joe DiMaggio (2014) and You Never Heard of Casey Stengel?! (2016), adds another to his roster of books introducing legendary baseball players. Though Mantle's father taught him switch-hitting and groomed him to become a professional ballplayer, the boy was sickly and small for his age until, in his teens, he grew up fast and earned a reputation as a slugger. At 19, he became an outfielder for the Yankees. Though a leg injury slowed his speed a bit and left him in pain during every game, Mantle became an outstanding hitter. He still holds records for the most home runs, RBIs, extra base hits, runs, walks, and total bases in World Series history. The narrator's voice has a certain folksy charm that works well, given Mantle's background as a miner's son from a small community in Oklahoma. Payne's artwork, created with acrylic and pencil, transports readers to that setting as well as several ballparks, while portraying characters with energy and personality. A worthwhile addition to sports collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2017
This top-notch biography of baseball's greatest switch-hitter, who played through pain almost every day of his Yankees career, has heart, passion, and impressive full-color acrylic and pencil illustrations. Winter writes with such assurance and power it's like reading one of Mantle's sweet swings. Winter focuses on Mantle's glories, but an appended note recounts the difficulties Mantle had off the field.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)