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| Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man |
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| This touching true story about legendary baseball player Lou Gehrig, summarized his life beautifully and accurately. Anyone who is unaware of his accomplishments and struggles, will end up with a supply of knowledge they never had before. The illustrations, created by Terry Widener, and the tone of the book are both very nostalgic. On the copyright page we learn that the illustrations have been done in �golden acrylics on Strathmore Bristol Board.� each painting is paired up perfectly with the context and each | |||||||||||||||||
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| is colorful and vivid. Detail is rich in the most important points to be made. For example, on a very touching scene in which Mr. Gehrig gives a speech, we see him from very far away next to the microphone in detail. We also see a few people in the foreground, very up close, cheering him on, but the rest of the painting is blurry. This allows readers to see clearly how much his fans supported and loved him. On the following page, readers are taken right next to Mr. Gehrig and witness a single tear running down his cheek, while a blurred out audience looks on. Throughout the book, facial expressions are used only when necessary, with the rest only showing the back of characters� heads or a bird�s eye view of events taking place. This allows readers to fully concentrate on the content of the book and not be distracted by minor details. For example, when we learn that, �Lou�s mother thought games and sports were a waste of time. [She insisted that he study hard.] But Lou loved sports.� Along with this text, we see a young Lou studying while his mother, shown only from the knees down, looks on. On the opposing page, we see two boys, one of them most likely Lou, playing street soccer while their schoolbooks sit on the sidewalk. Often, we see his teammates as just uniformed men with no faces. The content of the books speaks very highly of this legend at all times: �Lou was shy and modest, but people who watched him knew just how good he was.� Even at his worst, he maintained a positive attitude towards life. In his speech for example, he says, �Fans...for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.� Publisher�s Weekly describes the book, along with the illustrations, as �a gracious tribute to a stalwart, modest and tirelessly optimistic man. Widener�s stylized acrylics vividly recreate the look and feel of Major League baseball in the �20s and �30s.� This book can be of great help when introducing students to the concept of role models, perseverance, and unforgettable people in sports. Widener�s impressive artwork, and Adler�s excellent choice of words for such a touching story make this a valuable addition to any collection. Adler, David A. 1997. Lou Gehrig: The luckiest man. Gulliver Books Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0-15-200523-4. |
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| http://www.backgroundcity.com/ | |||||||||||||||||