When is a book not a book? To celebrate, and encourage, Global School Play Day on February 1, I am displaying a few. These look like some good books in the library. however, you cannot always judge that book by its cover.
This is an 8 volume set of Hogwarts history books that really just each open up to a character from Harry Potter; and
A book-like 4 volume set of “De Luxe Games” from, I believe late 40’s or early 50’s. Each box has a game. Everyone knows dominos and chess, but more unusual are “Acey-Ducey” (a faster backgammon-like game, or “Asia” a Trouble-like game. Global School Play Day gives kids a chance to just have a little unstructured, electronic-free, fun time. Children are growing up quicker, and not playing, interacting enough.
Also today, Is National Girls in Sports Day. I have always supported my daughter, and my granddaughters with their participation in sports. I have a very interesting book that I have had them all read. ”Mighty Jackie, The Strikeout Queen”, by Marissa Moss, 2004. This is a book for all girls. It has simply wonderful illustrations, and it is a true story of Jackie Mitchell, a Minor League Professional baseball player.
Jackie’s father supported her to excel in whatever she wanted to. She wanted to play baseball-a boys game. He practiced with her to become very good (her next door neighbor was baseball legend Dazzy Vance who played twenty years in MLB, and only pitcher to lead National league in strikeouts for seven years. He also worked with her pitching.) She played with the boys, and was signed to Chattanooga minor league as a backup pitcher.
One day, (April 2, 1931) the New York Yankees came to Chattanooga to play an exhibition game. (When the starting pitcher was pulled), Jackie went to the mound to pitch. Everyone was surprised to see a seventeen year old girl, pitching to the new York Yankees. The first batter was Babe Ruth. He struck out with four pitches. He was disgusted. The next batter was Lou Gehrig. She struck him out, as well. The crowd went nuts. What a day for her! She struck out two of the greatest baseball players ever to play.
A sad afterthought not in the book, was that Babe Ruth was so upset, he used his weight to have Jackie’s contract pulled by the Baseball Commissioner; no longer could women play in men’s baseball. She did play for a while in a men’s traveling baseball team unsanctioned, but retired because of the bad publicity. She was still mad at the Baseball Commissioner, when he tried to finally apologize in 1943, when he was starting the All-American Girls Professional Baseball league. She felt he was not sincere, and would not come out of retirement.
So kids shoulds play. And Libraries should be fun. I think I achieve both those in my library because I still haven’t grown up. Just call me “Super Grandpa!”
Librarytomes 