There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived

Reviewed by: Bernie Alie - Kennebunk Free Library, Kennebunk, ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 8, 2015

Review

Re-issue of the 2012 title introducing Ted Williams. The text remains the same, although this newer edition lists chapter headings. We meet Williams as a child, learn of his stardom on the baseball diamond and his two tours of military duty. The addition of a table of contents and index will please schools following Common Core standards. An author note, bibliography and statistics page completes the package.

With its easy text and clear font, this title is attractive to new readers. The compact size will appeal to those who don't want to be seen carrying a "baby book," as picture books are mistakenly perceived. However, the smaller format means that details have been cropped from the edges of some of the illustrations.

Some minor quibbles are noted. Williams won the American League Triple Crown twice, but readers never learn what the award signifies. Although the text states that his batting average of .388 in 1957 was "one of his finest seasons," the statistics page shows three seasons with a higher batting average. It is unclear why the 1957 season was singled out for notice. His time in the military is mentioned, but there is no source for the claim that he decided to crash his plane rather than bail out and risk broken legs.

Tavares has a knack for bringing baseball figures to life with clear prose and warm illustrations. His watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations range from 2-page spreads to spot illustrations that clearly depict Williams' determination and elation during the game. Libraries that don't own the earlier edition will want to add this one. Libraries shelving the larger edition with picture books might consider adding this to the biography section to reach additional readers.

Overall Book Score: very good