Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Written by Jonah Winter · Illustrated by James E. Ransome

A young boy dreams of Yankee pinstripes, becoming a baseball legend during America's toughest times.

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 95 ratings

48 pages

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In the golden age of baseball, young Joe DiMaggio, a first-generation Italian from San Francisco, dreams of Yankee pinstripes. Despite his father's doubts, Joe's dedication transforms him into a legendary centerfielder. As America faces the Depression and WWII, Joe becomes a beacon of hope, capturing hearts with his talent and marrying a movie star. Can he balance fame and personal life while keeping his eye on the ball?

From the publisher

Bestselling author Jonah Winter and award-winning illustrator James E. Ransome knock it out of the park with this tribute to one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, Joe DiMaggio. In the golden age of baseball, sports announcers ruled the radio, winning and losing was front-page news, and just about every young boy wanted to grow up to wear Yankee pinstripes, including Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, Jr., a first generation Italian from San Francisco. “Baseball is not a job,” said young Joe’s dad, but through hard work and dedication, Joe grew up to make headlines as a top centerfielder and ace hitter—Joltin’ Joe, the Yankee Clipper. And when the paychecks started rolling in and the newspaper reporters wouldn’t stop calling, you can bet Pop was mighty proud! During the Depression and WWII the country needed something to cheer for, and Joe was the star player who outshone the rest, even marrying movie star Marilyn Monroe—all by keeping his mouth shut and his eye on the ball.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 48
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: 720L

Themes & topics

Books about historical figures Books about baseball Books about New York Books about 1950 - 1999 Books about sports and recreation

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.3

out of 7

6.0

“It's a long book but I found it really entertaining. It kept me interested throughout and I learned quite a few things about Joe DiMaggio, the Yankees, America, and baseball history.”

Mr. Staccato

Trusted reviewer

4.5

“If you're a baseball fan, you'll love this baseball stat heavy and fact-filled telling of the story of Joe DiMaggio and his rise to stardom from very humble beginnings. It has great illustrations and is well-told and for a non-baseball fan, was quite informative (I learned a lot!) while still being interesting. It is on the long side, however, so probably best suited for little readers with longer attention spans.”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

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