Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America

by Sharon Robinson

Overview

The bestselling classic biography of Jackie Robinson, America's legendary baseball player and civil rights activist, told from the unique perspective of an insider: his only daughter.

Sharon Robinson shares memories of her famous father in this warm loving biography of the man who broke the color barrier in baseball — and taught his children that the only measure of life is the impact you have on others lives'.

Promises to Keep is the story of Jackie Robinson's hard-won victories in baseball, business, politics, and civil rights. It looks at the inspiring effect the legendary Brooklyn Dodger had on his family, his community ... his country.

Told from the unique perspective of Robinson's only daughter, this intimate and uplifting book includes photos from the Robinson family archives and family letters never published before.

Jackie Robinson is one our great national heroes. Promises to Keep reminds us what made him a champion — on and off the field!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439425926
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/2004
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	9.12(w) x 10.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1030L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sharon Robinson, daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, is the author of many acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction. She has written several books about her father, including Promises to Keep, Testing the Ice, The Hero Two Doors Down, and Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By. She is also the author of the memoir Child of the Dream and the picture book Under the Same Sun about her family in Tanzania, as well as the middle-grade novels Safe at Home and Slam Dunk!

Table of Contents

	Introduction	6
	A Black and White World	8
	Signs of Hope	10
	A Determined Pair	18
	1945: A Changing World	22
	Why My Father?	28
	Play Ball!	30
	A Civil Rights Champion	50
	Jackie Robinson's Legacy	58
	Index	64

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Sharon Robinson

Promises to Keep

"Jackie Robinson is the most important person in the most important spot in the history of our country." —Ken Burns, award-winning filmmaker

★ "In captivating words and pictures, Robinson chronicles the life of her legendary father. She weaves historical events into the story of one of baseball's greatest players, revealing how they shaped his life. Her text, combined with numerous black-and-white archival and family photographs, reproductions of newspaper headlines, magazine pages, and letters, illustrates Jackie Robinson's journey from childhood to the moment that he integrated major league baseball to his life as a businessman and civil rights spokesperson." — School Library Journal (starred review)

★ "In this photo biography, Robinson offers an affectionate profile of her father who, she writes, "taught me to flip pancakes, hit a baseball, question political leaders, solve problems, and keep promises." The author's concise history of race relations in the United States enables youngsters to understand the underpinnings of the "segregated world" into which Robinson was born and the racism and injustices he encountered throughout his private and professional life." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"An excellent and much-needed addition to the Jackie Robinson story." —Kirkus Reviews

"There are numerous biographies about Robinson available for young people, but none have this book's advantage of family intimacy. In a personal account, Robinson's daughter, Sharon, describes her father's youth, his rise to become major-league baseball's first African American player, and his involvement in the civil rights movement." —Booklist

Child of the Dream

★"A lovingly honest memoir of a racial-and social activist-past that really hasn't passed." — Kirkus Reviews starred review)

"Robinson’s unique viewpoint, accompanied by illuminating photographs from this charged historical period, offers plenty to hold readers’ attention." —Publishers Weekly

"An inspiring tale of personal struggle, this should engage readers who enjoy history and learning about social progress." —Booklist

Praise for The Hero Two Doors Down

"The story drives home the impact of Robinson's pioneering, not just for the game but for the country following it." —Birmingham News

"This charming tale offers up good fodder for discussion about prejudice, discrimination, friendship, and family." —Booklist

"A home run for baseball fans and anyone who loves an inspirational friendship story." —School Library Journal

"The story is just as down-to-earth and remarkable as the actual baseball star." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Jackie Robinson's daughter tells the story of her father's life and accomplishments, paying particular attention to the profound effect he had on American culture. Robinson writes in a straightforward style that is accessible to young readers without being condescending. Of course, she stresses all the positive aspects of her father's character, but this is not meant to be a completely objective account. Instead, the reader finds an insider's view of Robinson as husband, father, and friend, as well as athlete, pioneer, and civil-rights activist. Many of these activities have been ignored, or glossed over, by other biographers of works for children. Illustrated with copious photographs and letters from the family's private collection, this is a unique perspective on a man whose story has become so much the stuff of legend that the real person is often obscured. An excellent and much-needed addition to the Jackie Robinson story. (Biography. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews