Independent Reading Level 2-3rd graders 8-9
Awards:Chickadee Award (Nominee – 2011)
Iowa Goldfinch Award (Nominee – 2012)
Iowa Goldfinch Award (Nominee – 2022)
Monarch Award (Nominee – 2012)
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Nominee – Little Bluestem (Picture Book) – 2012)
Parents' Choice Book Award (2009)
Show Me Readers Award (Nominee – 2012)

The author is Jackie Robinson's daughter. Author's note at the end of the book gives more information about Jackie Robinson.

This is a brief history of Jackie Robinson's entrance into professional baseball alongside the story of him testing ice and not knowing how to swim. This book uses the metaphor of testing the ice on a frozen lake and compares it to Robinson breaking the color barrier in professional baseball. It was a good story but the language was so mature and the baseball terms were heavy that I think this book would only be good for older readers. I wish it had focused more on Robinson's career because it feels like two really short stories mushed together to make one longer story. ( )

This amazing story of Jackie Robinson written by his daughter is excellent. There are many lessons in this book the main one being Courage. This k-3 readers would see this a great way to introduce, it can just be explained through pictures if nessacy. the Illustrations are excellent and one of the best i have seen. ( )

Narrated by his daughter, this kid friendly biography gives the reader a glimpse as to who Jackie Robinson was. It gives the reader background information about his career in baseball and the courage it took for him to be the first African American in the league. His daughter also shares a sweet story about how her father faces his fear and goes on to the frozen lake. By telling us this story, the reader sees a different side of Jackie Robinson. ( )