Brothers at bat : the true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team

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Title:

Brothers at bat : the true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team

Author:

Vernick, Audrey, author.

Salerno, Steven, illustrator.

Summary:

Documents the story of the Baseball Hall of Fame honorees, tracing how the Acerra family of New Jersey formed their own semi-pro baseball team in the 1930s and became the longest-running all-brother team in history.

Physical Description:

39 p. : col. ill. ; 27 cm..

Corporate Subject:

Acerras (Baseball team)

Subject Term:

Baseball teams -- United States -- History.

Brothers -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Baseball teams -- New Jersey -- History.

Brothers -- New Jersey -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Author(s):

Salerno, Steven,

Publisher:

Clarion Books,

Electronic Access:

Contributor biographical information
Publisher description

Publication Date:

2012

ISBN:

9780547385570

Publication Information:

New York : Clarion Books, c2012.

Call Number:

J 920 ACERRA

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003109579	Juvenile Nonfiction	920 ACERRA	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"A wonderful illustration of what a great game baseball is and how it brings families together. Brothers at Bat is a story any baseball fan will enjoy and one that we all should know." --Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.

"A captivating story, impeccable layout, and glorious illustrations make this historical account an unqualified winner." --New York Times Book Review

The amazing true story of the longest-running all-brother team in history! Full of action, drama, and excitement, the never-before-told tale of the Hall of Fame team is vividly brought to life in expert storytelling and stunning vintage-style art.

The Acerra family had sixteen children, including twelve ball-playing boys. It was the 1930s, and many families had lots of kids. But only one had enough to field a baseball team . . . with three on the bench! They loved the game, but more important, they cared for and supported each other and stayed together as a team. Nothing life threw their way--not even a World War--could stop them.

Author Notes

Audrey Vernick is the author of several picture books as well as the middle grade novel Water Balloon. She lives in Ocean, New Jersey. Please visit her at www.audreyvernick.com.

Steven Salerno has illustrated many picture books, several of which he wrote. This is his first about baseball. He lives in New York City. Visit him at www.stevensalerno.com.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 3-Here's a fun and true story to start out the baseball season. Vernick relates the history of the Acerra family's 16 children, consisting of 12 boys who formed their own semiprofessional baseball team in Long Branch, NJ, during the 1930s. Their dad was their coach and biggest fan. The team is honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame for being the all-time longest-playing all-brother team in baseball history. The author exhibits good humor by pointing out individual boys' distinguishing characteristics such as Charlie, the slow runner who "hit a ball nearly out of the park, but only made it to second." There is a retro feel to Salerno's illustrations done in black crayon, gouache, watercolor, and pastel, with digital color added. Shades of green, blue, and turquoise augment the outdoor scenes. Readers will laugh out loud as they spot one brother out the bedroom window at night running with toilet paper in hand to their three-seater outhouse. This story sends out positive vibes of a family who sticks together, yet couples the tale with sorrowful times as well. A delight not to miss.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

"It sounds like a fairy tale: twelve baseball-playing brothers," but it's true. The 12 Acerra brothers from New Jersey played together on a semipro team formed in 1938, each brother with his own talents and style: "Charlie.... was a good player, but a terrible runner." Vernick, who interviewed two of the brothers as part of her research, describes how one brother lost an eye when he was struck by a baseball and how six of the brothers served in WWII. Painted in a bright palette of greens, yellows, and blues, Salerno's mixed-media illustrations, traced and shaded in black crayon, are an immediate attention-getter, the thick, horizontal brushwork contributing to a strong sense of movement. A lively story about family loyalty and love of the game, pulled from the sidelines of baseball history. Ages 4-8. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.