The Streak: How Joe DiMaggio Became America's Hero

If you know only one baseball statistic, you likely know its one "unbreakable" record - Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. According to the Author's Note, its probability for occurrence is once every 746 to 18,519 years. It was the most talked about news story of 1941, even edging out news of the war raging in Europe.

Oil-painted illustrations evoke the bygone era; references to new immigrants and mention of the war in Europe place the story in the context of history. However, The Streak is essentially a story of baseball, one man, and his favorite bat, Betsy Ann.

"When DiMaggio was up, he strolled to home plate. He didn't pull at his cap, scuff his feet, or make Betsy Ann dance behind his head. He rubbed dirt on his hands, tapped the show more plate just once, and set his wide-legged stance. For a minute, Joe stood perfectly still, then he and Betsy Ann went to work."

The book includes: Author's Note, Statistics, Source Notes, Bibliography, Acknowledgments

Video and more at http://shelf-employed.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-streak-review.html

(Advance Reader Copy provided by the publisher) show less

This was The United States of Baseball and Joe DiMaggio was its President.” The book takes the reader through the adventure of Joe DiMaggio’s summer and his 56 game hitting streak. Mixed in with the bouts of WWII on the horizon Joe’s summer of baseball was a light and hope to the American people. In this book reader’s get a peek into the great joy and wonder that would make America strong and united in the time to come.
Would be a good book to read to students during a history lesson and add some reading to their interdisciplinary study. It would also broaden interests to different studies who may not love history but love baseball. It can show them that all moments of life are integrated into history and maybe open students show more eyes to loving history and doing some of their own searching into sports and history. show less

I love how she includes headlines and actual time-relevant details. This will help the students understand why his streak was so important.

The Streak by Barb Rosenstock is a biography about Joe DiMaggi, a Jewish center fielders for the New York Yankees. In this book, we learn about his upbringing from working on a fishing boat with his father, to how he became one of the best hitters. Joe also had a lucky bat that he named “Betsy Ann.” Joe believed that his bat was the reason he was on such a hitting streak. He became a legion.

The significance of Joe DiMaggio is that he was “America’s Hero.” as the people would say. Joe’s hitting streak was a way for America to escape from the real problems of the country, WWII. This is why he had such a huge deal.

This book was a great story. I really enjoyed learning about Joe DiMaggio. I can relate to baseball stories very well so I connect and find them most interesting. When Joe lost his bat it made me upset because I know how that feels. You can hit with the same exact type of bat, but if it is not yours, it is different. Great story, I would read again.

This book tells the story of Joe DiMaggio, and his amazing hitting streak in the Majors. The streak begins, and seems to never end, so Joe decides the magic is all in his bat, "Betsy Ann". Although when Joe looses his bat will the streak continue?

Teaching Ideas: perseverance

Got this book at TLA and met the illustrator, who autographed it. Beautiful illustrations.

FROM AMAZON: Perfect for every baseball fan, here is the story of New York Yankees baseball great Joe DiMaggio’s longest hitting streak in baseball history.

In the summer of 1941, Yankee center fielder Joe DiMaggio and his favorite bat, Betsy Ann, begin the longest hitting streak in baseball history. But when Betsy Ann goes missing, will DiMaggio keep hitting? Set on the brink of World War II, this is a spellbinding account of a sports story that united the country and made DiMaggio a hero, at a time when one was profoundly needed. Barb Rosenstock's action-packed text and Terry Widener's powerful illustrations capture DiMaggio's drive as well as show more his frustration. The book also includes headlines, quotes, stats, and a detailed bibliography. show less