Charlie Takes His Shot

November 20, 2017
In a quietly affecting story about barrier-breaking golfer Charlie Sifford, Churnin describes the African-American athlete’s lifelong devotion to the game despite systemic racism. As a youth, Sifford became a caddie in order to get on the green in 1930s North Carolina; he later won the Negro National Open multiple times. Sifford’s hopes of playing professionally were ignited when Jackie Robinson wrote a newspaper column in support of Sifford, but even a court win against the Professional Golfer Association didn’t mean an end to mistreatment and abuse. Joven’s soft, smudgy cartoons soften the harder moments of Sifford’s story, and Churnin concludes on a hopeful note: “And now it was possible for everyone who loved the game to play and hear cheers from the crowd.” Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary.

January 1, 2018

Gr 1-3-Churnin details the life of Charlie Sifford, the first black man to compete in the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA).The narrative opens with a young Sifford playing a game of golf by himself at night ("If anyone saw him, he'd be in trouble"), before detailing Sifford's life as a caddie and how segregation forbid him from entering PGA tournaments. Inspired by a meeting with Jackie Robinson (who "didn't quit or lose his temper" when faced with racism), and with the help of lawyer Stanley Mosk, Sifford would eventually win a discrimination case against the PGA in 1960. The overturning of the PGA's Caucasians-Only clause allowed Sifford to go on to win the Greater Hartford Open in 1967, the Los Angeles open in 1969, and the Senior PGA Championship in 1975 to become known as the "Jackie Robinson of golf." Churnin provides a thoughtful overview of discrimination and how it impacted the world of sports through the 1960s. The illustrations are colorful and their size and placement vary throughout the story, providing a more dynamic reading experience and breaking up larger blocks of text. The characters especially come to life on the page with a range of expressions and emotions conveyed through the art. VERDICT A worthwhile addition to school libraries looking for sports-related picture book biographies.-Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
A biography of Charlie Sifford, the African-American man who integrated professional golf.As a child, Charlie had to practice golf at night because black people weren't allowed to play on private courses in 1930s Jim Crow North Carolina. So Charlie became a caddie and competed in--and won--tournaments for black players. Charlie wanted to play in the PGA, but the organization had a "Caucasians-only" rule. Joven's art realistically portrays Charlie getting older as he moves the action forward, often using multiple illustrations per page. Light layers of color overlap, angular shapes giving the story a suitably retro look. Learning about Jackie Robinson, the first African-American in Major League Baseball, leads Charlie to hope that he can integrate golf. When Charlie meets Jackie, Jackie is honest: "It's going to be awfully tough, Charlie." (The dialogue throughout is unsourced.) In her straightforward, quietly passionate narrative, Churnin records how Charlie keeps playing but can't change the racist PGA rules. Finally, a Jewish lawyer, Stanley Mosk, successfully gets the rule rescinded, and Charlie becomes the first African-American PGA player. Churnin emphasizes that that isn't the end of the discrimination and abuse Charlie suffers--but finally, one day, he hears a new sound: encouragement from the gallery instead of boos. A poignant and inspiring tale of a groundbreaking sports figure whose name and story should be well-known. (author's note, timeline) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

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December 15, 2017
Grades 1-3 Growing up in North Carolina, Charlie Sifford loved golf. The best course nearby excluded him and other African Americans, but he became a caddy there and studied the best golfers to improve his game. A strong, talented player, he won many tournaments on public courses, but PGA events were held on private, whites-only courses. With support from Jackie Robinson and a great lawyer, he succeeded in breaking the color barrier in professional golf. Like Robinson, he encountered racial hostility and discrimination but gradually gained public support. In 1967, 45-year-old Sifford won his first PGA tournament. This picture book portrays him as a man driven by his love of golf and willing to endure harassment, indignities, and threats to open the sport to all. The author of The William Hoy Story (2016), Churnin writes clearly and focuses on the main story while offering additional information about Sifford in the appended author's note and timeline. Colombian artist Joven interprets the narrative in colorful digital illustrations. An engaging picture book introducing a little-known American hero.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)