Willie and the All-Stars

October 20, 2008
In 1942 Chicago, young Willie dreams of being a baseball player, just like the Major League Baseball stars that play in nearby Wrigley Field. But baseball is still segregated and Willie, as a neighbor points out, “is the wrong color.” Willie's hopes are rekindled at an exhibition game between the Negro League All-Star team and the Major League All-Stars, when he witnesses Satchel Paige's team win the grudging respect of their white opponents. Cooper's text often lands with the heavy thunk of an after-school special, and Willie's friendship with an Irish boy seems more well-meaning than authentic, given the historical realities of the book's setting. There's far more grace in the sepia-toned oil-wash paintings, which combine photorealistic portraiture with dramatic composition. Whether he's working in closeup or conveying a ballpark buzzing with fans, Cooper (Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan
) swings for the fences, and he almost always delivers. Ages 6–8.

November 1, 2008
Gr 1-4-In 1942, young Willie already knows that nothing comes easy, but he dreams of baseball fame. When a neighbor tells him about baseball's color line, he is crushed, feeling "all closed up inside." Then he's given tickets to an exhibition game between Negro League and Major League All-Stars at Wrigley Field. Though their uniforms and equipment are aged and tattered, the Negro Leaguers, led by Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, quickly impress the crowd with their hard-driving playing style. Willie notes that "from the first pitch," they seem "hungrier for the victory," and they eventually out muscle the Major Leaguers. The story ends on a hopeful note, with a handshake between two opposing players, symbolizing that the victory has brought "a nod of acknowledgment, if not acceptance, from White to Black." An author's note adds a thumbnail sketch of the Negro Leagues. Cooper's vibrant, nostalgic oil paintings, in hues of golden brown and earth tones, enhance this story's winsome appeal. Pair it with Carole Boston Weatherford's "A Negro League Scrapbook" (Boyds Mills, 2005) and Gavin Curtis's "The Bat Boy and His Violin" (S & S, 1998), both excellent introductions to this period for fans and casual readers alike."Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
Its 1942 and 10-year-oldWillie, a big Cubs fan, looks forward to the day when hell be a major leaguer.When hehears men on the corner excitedly talking about players he has never heard ofSatchel Paige, Papa BellWillie thinks they cant be that good if theyre not in the majors;he is told hewouldnt be able to play either because he is black. Then, excitement!Willie is giventickets to an exhibition game between Negro League and major league all-starsin Wrigley Field. Willie goes in rooting for the major leaguers but comes out with appreciation for the black all-stars. A special moment is watching players from the opposing teams shake hands. By looking at race relations through the prism of baseball, Cooper will draw readers (though a comment about segregated fountains and trolleys in Chicago seems off base). The soft-focus sepia-touched artwork, vintage Cooper, is a nice mix of action and nostalgia. An authors note gives a brief baseball history: first theraces played together, then apart, before finally coming together once more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2009
In 1942, baseball-loving Willie listens to radio broadcasts of games, not realizing all the players are white. Upon learning he's "the wrong color," Willie feels "all closed up inside." Watching Negro League players win a barnstorming game against Major Leaguers restores Willie's equilibrium. Cooper's text and paintings beautifully display Willie's shifting emotions. An author's note tells more about Negro League Baseball.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)