Several new children's books have just come off the press from Gareth Stevens Publishing of New York. Among these books is the biography, CC Sabathia, by Therese Shea, which is written for third-grade level readers. It is a new instalment in the series Today's Superstars.
The author, Therese Shea, has written over 100 children's books. Among her books are biographies of sports stars in baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey. Her other books include topics such as animals, plants, country music stars, nature, history, American government and other nonfiction. In CC Sabathia, Shea uses age appropriate content to tell the story of the big pitcher's life from childhood to his 2009 World Series Championship with the New York Yankees.
Key features of Shea's children's book
This 6.5-inch by 9-inch hardcover book has 48 glossy pages chock full of color photos of Sabathia in action. The table of contents page at the front makes it easy to find chapters and the end-of-book supplements. These supplements include a two-page timeline chart of the baseball superstar's life and career, a page listing his championships and awards, source notes, an index, a reference page of books and web sites about Sabathia, and a glossary. As glossary words appear for the first time throughout the book, they appear in bold type.
Also throughout the book, there is a highlighted fun true-false quiz. Answers are found just before the index at the end of the book. The chapters feature fact boxes and sidebars, too. Each of the six short chapters is divided into titled subsections, with each subsection ending on the same page on which it starts, for easier reading and fast achievement.
Sabathia's life from childhood to the Cleveland Indians mound
Chapter 1, “Pitching History,” starts with the all important 2009 New York Yankees best-of-seven-games against the Los Angeles Angels. It was the American League Championship Series (ALCS), and the big pitcher CC Sabathia was on the mound for the Yankees in the first game. He took the Yankees to a win of 4-1 in that first game. He pitched again in game four, taking the Yankees to a 10-1 win. With the Yankees' win in game six, the team came out the ALCS winners with four wins against the Angels' two wins. Sabathia was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player (MVP), and the Yankees went on to win the 2009 World Series. That was Sabathia's first season with the Yankees.
Shea focuses on Sabathia's childhood and early sports start in Chapter 2, “Born Athlete.” In his hometown of Vallejo, California, he excelled not only in baseball but also in football and basketball. Shea quotes Coach Abe Hobbs of Vallejo High School as saying that CC was always “levelheaded,” although he came from “a pretty rough area.” The coach and CC's parents, particularly his mother, Margie Sabathia, gave him a lot of encouragement. His mother taught him to be confident but humble.
By his junior year in high school, CC already was being watched by scouts from the major league and by university scouts. In his senior year, he decided on a baseball career and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.
In Chapter 3, “On the Mound in Cleveland,” Shea tells how Sabathia developed his skills in minor league games and started pitching in the major league when he was only 20 years old. He was the youngest pitcher in the MLB when he started on the Indians mound in 2001. In his rookie year, he had a 17-5 win-loss record. He then signed a four-year contract with the Indians, had a brilliant career with the team, and became one of the most popular pitchers in the league.
From the Cy Young Award to the 2009 World Series Championship
Only very extraordinary pitchers in the MLB win the American League Cy Young Award. In Chapter 4, “A Cy Young Pitcher,” Shea relates how Sabathia won the award. It was 2007, his best year with Cleveland, when he pitched 19 wins to 7 losses. Shea quotes Indians general manager Mark Shapiro as saying that Sabathia “never pointed fingers, never felt sorry for himself,” but pulled for the team's victories even in the hardest times. He won the 2007 Cy Young Award for his great pitching abilities and also for his leadership.
Chapter 4 also covers Sabathia's move to the Milwaukee Brewers. With the Brewers in 2008, he led the MLB in innings pitched, complete games and shutouts, and he led the team to the National League Division Series.
Chapter 5, “CC, New York Yankee,” and Chapter 6, “Slow Start, Fantastic Finish,” cover this big pitcher's career with the Yankees from his 2008 $21 million contract to the team's 2009 World Series Championship win.
An excellent sports biography among children's books
In this biography, Therese Shea gives a comprehensive look at the life and career of CC Sabathia in language that can be understood easily by third-grade level readers. She tells of his kindness and generosity, his work with charities, his family life and his friendship to others, as well as his historic accomplishments as an MLB pitcher.
This is an ideal book for children who are interested in sports but are not eager to read. It also is an excellent biography for third graders who need to find achievement in reading.
Please click here for a review of another children's book in the Today's Superstars series, Drew Brees by Michael Portman.
Sources
Shea, Therese. Today's Superstars – CC Sabathia. New York: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2011.
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