| Title | : | Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0545052513 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780545052511 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 40 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2009 |
When Jackie Robinson retires from baseball and moves his family to Connecticut, the beautiful lake on their property is the center of everyone's fun. The neighborhood children join the Robinson kids for swimming and boating. But oddly, Jackie never goes near the water.
In a dramatic episode that first winter, the children beg to go ice skating on the lake. Jackie says they can go--but only after he tests the ice to make sure it's safe. The children prod and push to get Jackie outside, until hesitantly, he finally goes. Like a blind man with a stick, (contd.)
Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson Reviews
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It’s January and it means that it’s time for my annual Jackie Robinson book(s) in honor of his birth month. For those of you who have been around awhile, you may recall me noting that Jackie Robinson is one of my American heroes. He is one of few people who has their own good reads shelf of mine as a subject. Jackie was brave, courageous, and all the other adjectives that describe and honor him. It’s the least I can do to return to the story of life every winter
I have read most of the books my library has to offer on this great man so this year I got creative. This short illustrated book for young readers tells a story of Jackie Robinson as a hero. It is written by his daughter about the first winter that their family lived in Connecticut and how her father would never enter the lake behind their house. For all the plaudits Jackie Robinson exhibited on multiple playing surfaces, he did not know how to swim. Although not written, this was true of many African Americans of his generation who were banned from their local swimming pools. Some things are best left unsaid.
One winter day, Robinson’s children and their friends wanted to skate on the frozen lake. Jackie needed to test the ice because he was a father first and needed to know that the kids were safe. All these years later, Sharon notes about her father that he “showed the same courage on the ice that day as he did when he broke the color barrier in baseball. No one really knew what would happen. But he felt his way along an untried path- like a blind man tapping for clues.”
Stories such as these are what made Jackie Robinson a great person outside of sports. As his life moves farther into the past and takes on mythical proportions, it is all the more important for generations of Americans to study his life. It is the least I can do to read about him each year. -
I read this for a challenge of "winter sports" which, the cover shows, counts. But of course this amazing book is about an amazing man who is most famous for what he did in the summer. The book is beautifully written by the daughter, Sharon Robinson, of the man who broke the color barrier in baseball. And powerfully illustrated by a favorite of many of us here at Children's Books, Kadir Nelson.
So, it also goes on "Black History" shelves, for sure.
I like that the Robinson kids make close friends with the neighbors, though they are white. And I like that Branch Rickey is given credit, which imo he deserves because he had to have nerve, too, to integrate the Dodgers.
I very highly recommend it. And if your library doesn't have it, suggest that they consider buying it. -
Really lovely intermediate-level book written by Sharon Robinson about her father Jackie. The strength of this book is that it's a pretty small story. It touches on her father's entrance into major league baseball, but mostly it's just about him being her dad. When she was little I think she knew that he was important, but mostly he was just her dad. The story takes place primarily around 1955 when the family relocated to an idyllic house in Connecticut. Her dad loves the woods, but always stays out of the water no matter how much they beg. When the lake freezes, they need him to go out and test the ice (anyone who has been around a frozen lake will know how much weird, scary noise it makes!). Ms. Robinson explores the different types of bravery her dad showed her. I like books like this that show a smaller side of a famous person. Often groundbreaking figures get turned into mythic figures, but human stories like this show the individual and intersectional nature of a person's character.
I think this is a lovely book for individual reading, but I also think a teacher could use it as a longer read-aloud for a class. I hate to say that this would be perfect for African American History Month, because it would basically be a good read during any winter month. That said, I am definitely going to put it on display during February so I can hopefully get some more eyes on it.
And of course Kadir Nelson's illustrations throughout are stunning. No surprise given that he is the most talented illustrator on earth! -
If I could give this book a billion stars, I would. Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson is a story told from a childhood memory, that speaks volumes. What child would not be proud of a father who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball? Yet, he is also the father that braved walking across the frozen ice to test its strength, knowing that he couldn't swim. For his children, he would do the unthinkable...for a nation of baseball fans, he was the first of a long line of fine athletes, just men, and devoted fathers who played the game with dignity and pride.
Just as Sharon Robinson's tale is full of wonder, the illustrations by Kadir Nelson are extraordinary, evocative, and gorgeous. What a gift he has! This baseball memoir is a treasure which takes us back to a time in history where civil rights were not equal, let alone discussed. -
This book by Jackie Robinson’s daughter highlights the athlete’s integrity and love for his kids. Beautiful story.
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Suggested Grade Levels: K-2nd Grade
Genre: Informational-Biography
Historical Topic: Jackie Robinson-First Colored Player in MLB
Themes: Perseverance and determination
This is a story about Jackie Robinson told by his daughter, Sharon. The story plays with a double meaning between telling the story of how Jackie Robinson tested the waters of MLB by being the first person of color to play in the Majors and the story of how Jackie Robinson did not know how to swim. Despite his inability to swim, he went out on the family’s lake to test the ice in winter before allowing the children to ice skate. The story focuses on how brave and dignified Jackie Robinson was and on the doors that he opened for others.
The illustrations are created using watercolor, pencil and oil. The pictures are large and in color and make the reader feel as though they are right in the mix of the book. The illustrations have several places where there is contrasting colors of light and dark, just as it was for Jackie when he started playing in the Major League. This especially explicit on pages 13-14. It is a close up side view of Branch Rickey, the man who would get Jackie on the Brooklyn Dodgers, staring into the face of Jackie Robinson and the rest of the page is black. It is a very defined contrast between the light and dark skin, but they are both looking into each other’s eyes almost trying to show they are starting to try and understand each other. The pictures are very moving in the book.
This book touches on the concept of breaking racial boundaries in a gentle way that young readers can understand. It also shows how Jackie was brave and walked on the ice, something that many young children can relate to. It touches on the concept of what does it mean to be brave. I would have the students write or draw what it means to be brave. I would have each person share and start a running list of words the students use to describe brave. I would use this as a reference chart for the rest of the year to look at other characters in our books and define if they are brave or not and what they do that is brave. I think this would bring this trait more to light for younger readers and begin to make them aware of the fact that they can be brave too. -
My children are younger than the ages recommended for this book and they still loved it. My son loved it as he's a huge baseball fan and loved learning about one of America's greatest baseball players. Sharon does such a great job at pulling the reader into this story. It starts out talking about her father's accomplishments and what he endured as an African American baseball player. Then she talks about this beautiful home and property they moved into in CT that had a lovely pond that they would all swim in, except her father as he doesn't know how to swim. When it freezes over, the children all ask their father if they can ice skate. Mr. Robinson proceeds to test the ice for the children to make sure it's safe before they ice skate.
The story is one that left me wishing I was there to experience it. If the story doesn't capture you, the artwork will. It's a beautifully written story with such beautiful art work that will capture your attention.
Highly recommend for any baseball fan and any fan of Jackie Robinson. -
Written by Jackie Robinson's daughter, this beautiful biography demonstrates his courage. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in the Major Leagues on the Brooklyn Dodgers team. He faced insults, threats and physical attacks. Still he persisted. Another demonstration of his courage came later. The family had moved to Connecticut and it was winter. The lake had frozen and the children, including their neighbors, wanted to ice skate. Robinson carefully went out onto the lake to test the ice. Robinson couldn't swim and if the ice broke, he would be in danger. However, he bravely tested the ice.
I appreciate that this picture book shows Robinson as not just a baseball player but also a father. It shows his courage in two different but difficult situations. And, of course, Kadir Nelson's illustrations are absolutely beautiful! They help convey the deep emotions of the biography. Highly recommended! -
Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Jackie Robinson, relates events from her childhood and ties them to her father's experiences as the first African American major league baseball player. A great selection for students who already know about Jackie Robinson and his role in the Civil Rights movement.
I'm not sure why this book is considered fiction. The story is written by Sharon Robinson and she relates events from her childhood. -
What a gorgeous, gorgeous book! I love the message that it gives without being too preachy. My 5th grade team uses it every year for a lesson and I finally took the time to read it for myself and I am so glad I did. I plan to buy a few copies for our library now so we don't have to borrow it from others.
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A wonderful story, although I think the ice metaphor might be lost on the Very Young Ones. The illustrations are beautifully detailed, and I loved the simple lesson about bravery even without the bigger picture. (And let's never underestimate the importance of this book's Big Picture!)
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Audience: Young to Intermediate readers
Appeal: Sports fans, family oriented readers and civil rights activists will enjoy this book.
Awards: 2012 Golden Sower nominee & 2012 Show-Me nominee -
Testing the Ice is a short biographical story about one event in the life of Jackie Robinson, the first African American major league baseball player in America. It was written by and from the point of view of an adoring daughter, Sharon Robinson. This story has earned the Choices Award in 2009 from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, Parents’ Choice Award in 2009, as well as nominated for the Show Me Award in 2011.
The story begins with a brief history about who Jackie Robinson was, and why his contribution to the breaking of the color barrier was so important for America as well as for baseball. An enduring element of the telling of this story is that Robinson himself explains his accomplishments not proudly, but as a father and neighbor answering questions asked by children. It adds a sense of humility and helps connect the reader to Robinson’s story.
Robinson is also portrayed as a fun and loving father who spent time with his family. His daughter related how good it was to have him home which provided him with time to play with his children as well as the neighborhood children. During this special time that Sharon Robinson describes, her father taught them life long lessons about understanding, civility, and what it means to be a good father and successful man both professionally as well as privately.
However, all of his worldly accomplishments weren’t nearly as impressive to his children as the courage portrayed by Robinson when he stepped out on the ice during a cold winter day. On this one day the great baseball player became a visibly tangible hero. Sometimes news coverage, trophies, and verbal stories of greatness aren’t enough to show the true character of man. Sometimes it only takes one simple act. Such as conquering a fear to benefit a group of young children to provide the emotional connection needed to solidify a person’s hero status. Sharon Robinson gives the reader this solid image of her father’s heroism when she vividly explains the courage it took for her father to test the ice.
It is the pictures though which helps fully explain this story. Illustrated by Caldecott honor artist, Kadir Nelson, Robinson’s life story from baseball player, to loving father, to local hero is beautifully illustrated. In this book the drawings do not tell the story, they compliment the story. Most impressive is the way Nelson pays attention to the smallest of details. One picture shows Robinson and Branch Rickey discussing Robinson’s future in baseball’s major league, the illustrator beautifully captured the stoic Jackie Robinson as he considers Rickey’s challenge. In that picture children will see and feel the importance of this event. Throughout the book the illustrations depict the emotions felt by each character so clearly that it is almost impossible to not vicariously feel deeply for what is going on in the story. Those emotions range from intense concentration, to love, to caring, to challenge, to fear, and finally to jubilation. As Randall Enos of Booklist stated, these illustrations truly do have a Norman Rockwell quality to them (Enos).
Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson picture book offers a touching biographical historical fiction story which can be viewed independently, or used in the classroom for children of all ages. The story along with the illustrations can be used in elementary, middle, or high school as an example of discrimination, and how one man can make a difference for many. Initially, younger children will enjoy the courage it took Robinson to get out onto the ice, while older students will see the underlying meanings of the story. George DuBose reviewer for Children’s Literature wrote that “testing the ice on a frozen pond (was) a metaphor for Robinson breaking the race barrier in professional baseball” (DuBose). This review illustrates how easily this book could be used as in introductory lesson to the civil rights movement in a social studies unit or class.
Truly a great story for all ages!
http://nogginquest.wordpress.com/2013... -
This book was a biography about the great baseball player, Jackie Robinson. It was written by his daughter, Sharon. It talks about the Robinson's home in Connecticut where they would go swimming at a lake but how Jackie never swam with them. The book contains snippets where it talked about Jackie's career as the first black player in the MLB. In the end, the story leads the family to winter time and the kids are wanting to go ice skating. Mr. Robinson shows his bravery again by testing the dangerous ice before the kids play on it.
The illustrations on this book were phenomenal. The story was sweet and shared good information about the Civil Rights movement.
I would use this book to help me teach the civil rights movement to show kids how discrimination was even in sports. -
Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson is a book written by his daughter describing a time when her father overcame his fears of not knowing how to swim and helped then test the ice one winter day. She recalls how much courage it took from him to break color barriers and make history. I give this book four stars because it is interesting to see Jackie not only as a baseball player, but a father and normal man as well.
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"Testing the Ice" is a story about Jackie Robinson told by his daughter, Sharon Robinson. She told of the day about how he tested the frozen water in the lake behind their home to see if it was safe for them to go ice skating. She then draws a comparison to his professional life as a baseball player. I would recommend this book to any child, family or classroom for a good read!
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Loved! My students loved this story as well! Written from the perspective of his daughter, you get to see her father, Jackie Robinson, through her eyes! Love that it’s based off a true story and shows the strength and bravery this man had not only in baseball, but in life! My students couldn’t stop asking questions after we finished!
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Great Jackie Robinson story/text with a wonderful message. I think the true beauty in this one however, is in the illustrations. WOW! GORGEOUS illustrations! (And like I said, great message/story as well!)
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I like Jackie Robinson's story and impact on history. This is a different angle. His daughter writes about him as a father rather than as a baseball player. He is shown to be brave in more ways than the ones he is famous for. A nice love note to a father.
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A beautiful story about Jackie Robinson written by his daughter, Sharon. She discusses his entrance to Major League Baseball but really she just talks about what it's like to have him as a normal everyday dad. Very emotional.
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This text-heavy picture book may be a little long for little ones, but this story is perfect for older children (and adults). Based on a true story, written by Jackie Robinson's daughter (who is also a character in the story), and beautifully illustrated by Nelson.
