All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball (Hardcover)
In 1947, Larry Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Black player in the American leagues. He endured terrible racism, both from fans and his fellow teammates. Despite this, he became a unifying force on and off the field, and went on to become a seven-time All Star. Illustrated with Cannaday Chapman’s bold, stylized illustrations, this exceptional biography tells the story of an unsung hero who not only opened doors for those behind him, but set amazing records during his Hall of Fame career. More significantly, it examines the long fight to overcome racism in sports and our culture at large, a fight that is far from over.
Audrey Vernick is author of several novels and many picture books, including Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team. She lives with her family near the ocean in New Jersey. Visit her online at audreyvernick.com and on Twitter @yourbuffalo.
Cannaday Chapman is the illustrator of the picture book biographies All-Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball and Feed Your Mind: The Story of August Wilson, and his work has been featured in the New York Times and on the cover of The New Yorker. He was born in upstate New York and studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and he currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
"Chapman’s textured digital art effectively makes use of interesting perspectives to create striking visuals...An important story that we still have a lot to learn from." — Kirkus Reviews
“This worthy spotlight on a baseball hero will also serve as a solid discussion opener about ongoing racism and discrimination in sports.” — Publishers Weekly
“This is a balanced account of one player’s brilliant achievements and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in sports and society.” — Horn Book Magazine
“The narrative focuses on [Doby’s] ability to achieve his dreams through hard work and endurance […] An appealing depiction of Doby growing from an athletic boy to a man who helped pave the way for other Black baseball players.” — Booklist