Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man

by David A. Adler, Terry Widener (Illustrator)

Overview

This biography traces Gehrig’s life, from childhood through his illustrious career with the Yankees to his struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his tragic death at age thirty-seven. Expressive illustrations capture the strength, modesty, and dignity for which this remarkable man will always be remembered. “Readers will feel good after reading this biography—and maybe even inspired to start measuring themselves against Gehrig’s standard.”—Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152024833
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/01/2001
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	131,201
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.12(d)
Lexile:	750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

DAVID ADLER has written more than a hundred books, including Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man and Mama Played Baseball. He lives on Long Island, New York. 

Editorial Reviews

"Well told and handsomely illustrated." -The New York Times Book Review


"A touching tribute to the baseball superstar . . . Stunning illustrations."-The Boston Globe

From the Publisher

A touching tribute to the baseball superstar . . . Stunning illustrations.

A touching tribute to the baseball superstar . . . Stunning illustrations.

Boston Globe

PW called this picture-book biography of the man who played 2,130 consecutive games for the New York Yankees "a gracious tribute to a stalwart, modest and tirelessly optimistic man. Widener's stylized acrylics vividly re-create the look and feel of major league baseball in the '20s and '30s." Ages 6-9. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The aw-shucks decency of Gehrig drives this picture-book biography from Adler (One Yellow Daffodil, 1995, etc.); what comes through is Gehrig as a genuine rarity, blessed with colossal athletic talent that he carried with dignity and modesty.

The familiar story (no sources are given, but it follows the Gary Cooper movie, Pride of the Yankees, quite closely) is here: how Gehrig left college and signed with the Yankees to get money for his family; his remarkable, 14-year, 2,130-consecutive-game record; how he benched himself when he started to experience the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; his farewell speech to Yankee fans ("I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth"); his death at age 37 and the rain that fell on his funeral. Adler never overstates the adulation, which would sound hokey on anyone else's shoulders, but fits Gehrig snugly. Newcomer Widener's illustrations capture the texture of Gehrig's city and playing fields, although one spread—of Yankee Stadium in the rain—brings the book to a premature close (a dangling page of text follows). Readers will feel good after reading this biography—and maybe even inspired to start measuring themselves against Gehrig's standard.

Kirkus Reviews