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Babe Ruth: History's All-Stars    by Guernsey Van Riper Jr. & Seymour Fleishman Amazon.com order for
Babe Ruth
by Guernsey Van Riper Jr.
Order:  USA  Can
Aladdin, 2015 (2015)
Hardcover, Softcover
* * *   Reviewed by Jessica Maguire

The History's All-Stars series seems to be a formula one: Take an important historical figure and write about his youth to adulthood, paying particular attention to the hardships encountered. With some formula books the only change really is in the characters themselves; the plot never changes. This series, however, is a little different.

I particularly enjoyed this installment, focusing on the life of George 'Babe' Ruth. The young troublemaker, too much for his parents to handle, was sent to St. Mary's School in hopes he would get on the right path and have a bright future. It is at St. Mary's that the monks first introduced the young Ruth to baseball and a legend was born, or so the saying goes.

At St. Mary's, Ruth continued his hijinks while he played with friends and fought with his enemies as he grew up. Ruth's troubles and triumphs while coming of age at the boarding school really keep the reader interested and involved in the story.

Of course, the story follows Ruth throughout his stay at St. Mary's, through his apprenticeship making shirts, all the way to his career in the big leagues. The young reader, aged eight to twelve years old, will also learn the story of how the ballplayer earned his very famous nickname.

The story is nicely illustrated with pen and ink drawings by Seymour Fleishman. Not a boring history lesson, the collaboration of author and artist really make history come alive.

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