The Streak

Starred review from February 10, 2014
“It started quietly, like a conversation with Joe DiMaggio himself.” With those words, Rosenstock transports readers to the summer of 1941, when war loomed and DiMaggio set a new MLB record with a 56-game hitting streak, uniting a nation: “This was the United States of Baseball, and Joe DiMaggio was its President.” Rosen-stock builds delicious tension and emotion as the streak grows (she also devotes some space to DiMaggio’s off-the-field upbringing), and Widener is equally in his element—one can almost feel DiMaggio’s baggy Yankee pinstripes rustling as he dashes to first base after yet another hit. Substantial back matter includes stats, bibliography, and an in-depth author’s note that covers DiMaggio’s relationship with his beloved bat, “Betsy Ann,” and offers further context about “the streak” and America’s entry into WWII. A rousing and inspiring account of an athletic achievement that has yet to be bested. Ages 8–up. Author’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

April 1, 2014

Gr 2-5-Placed within the historical context of the last perfect baseball summer before America's involvement in World War II, Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak of 1941 becomes even more impressive. Rosenstock also captures the drama surrounding the feat: how a player from humble beginnings with hands that were used to hard work now held a bat, how DiMaggio named his bat "Betsy Ann" and only used it for games, and how the bat was stolen on the very day he was to break the previously held record. An occasional phrase in bold red type adds to the superhero quality of the story, while the slightly blurred acrylic illustrations make the characters seem as if they were captured in motion, creating a nostalgic effect. Detailed source notes, a lengthy bibliography, and lots of stats round out the presentation.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak is considered one of the greatest feats in baseball and the one least likely to be replicated. Everyone expected Joltin' Joe to pound out the hits, but as the consecutive games mounted up, the excitement built as well. The year 1941 was a difficult time, and people needed something to cheer about. "That one perfect summer" was the last summer of peacetime. All eyes were on DiMaggio each time he came to bat, and newspaper headlines screamed the daily tally. Rosenstock's game descriptions capture the momentum and let readers see and feel the events as if they were at the games. Along with play-by-play for some of the key hits, there's some fascinating information about DiMaggio's proud and determined character, as well as some lesser-known events. His favorite bat, "Betsy Ann," was stolen during the streak, later recovered and then broken. Widener's expansive, double-page illustrations, rendered in acrylic on bristol paper, in earth tones of green and gold, are larger than life, elongating DiMaggio as he takes his stance, rounds the bases or grips his bat. Each occurrence of the hit count and the word "streak" stands out from the rest of the text in heavy red display type. DiMaggio's remarkable hitting streak is freshly presented for a new generation of fans. (afterword, author's note, statistics, source notes, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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April 1, 2014
Grades K-3 Rosenstock cranks up the significance of DiMaggio's as-yet-unbeaten 56-game hitting streak, in 1941. She does this through a dramatic season recap with the rising game numbers in red, and by taking note of the war tensions that heightened in parallel that summer. Joltin' Joe's game bat, nicknamed Betsy Ann, practically becomes another character, and the tale of its theft and recovery midcourse further raises the suspense. Widener, who has illustrated a number of picture books about great baseball players of the past, supplies green-and-gold acrylic action scenes featuring both the lanky batter and, often, contemporary newspaper headlines about the streak and the war. The author misses a beat by failing to mention that immediately after his streak was broken DiMaggio went on another one of 16 straight games, but more information can be found in her substantial historical essay and list of enough print and web resources to satisfy fans of any age. End notes document quotes. Was this the most perfect summer in baseball, as she claims? Could be.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)