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Table of Contents
About The Book
Play ball with Satchel Paige with this nonfiction picture book biography from two Coretta Scott King Award–winning creators.
No one pitched like Leroy “Satchel” Paige. Fans packed the stands to see how many batters he could strike out in one game. He dazzled them with his unique pitching style, and he even gave nicknames to some of his trademark pitches—there was the “hesitation,” his magic slow ball, and the “bee ball,” named because it would always “be” where he wanted it to be.
Follow Satch’s career through these beautiful illustrations as he begins playing in the semi-pros and goes on to become the first African American to pitch in a major League World Series, and the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
About The Author
Photo by John Halpern
Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of many award-winning and critically acclaimed nonfiction books for young readers, including Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams; My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle’s Journey to Alvin Ailey; and Before She Was Harriet. She is also the author of the novel Finding Langston, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award and five starred reviews. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Learn more at LesaClineRansome.com.
About The Illustrator
Photo by John Halpern
James E. Ransome’s highly acclaimed illustrations for Before She Was Harriet received the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include the Coretta Scott King winner The Creation; Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed’s Barbershop; Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; and Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. James is also a recipient of the ALA Children’s Literature Legacy Award. He frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome. One of their recent titles is Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams, which received four starred reviews and was an ALA Notable Children’s Book. James is a professor and coordinator of the MFA Illustration Graduate Program at Syracuse University. He lives in New York’s Hudson River Valley region with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Aladdin (January 1, 2003)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9780689856815
- Grades: 1 - 5
- Ages: 6 - 10
- Lexile ® 1010L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
- Fountas & Pinnell™ R These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System
Browse Related Books
Awards and Honors
- CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
- Children's Literature Choice List
- ALA Children’s Literature Legacy Award
Resources and Downloads
Common Core Suggestion
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Satchel Paige Trade Paperback 9780689856815(5.3 MB)
- Author Photo (jpg): Lesa Cline-Ransome Photo by John Halpern(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
