
"We cheered as loudly as we could, and we skated circles around Dad as he walked back onto solid ground. All I could think was: 'My dad is the bravest man alive.'" - Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson by Sharon Robinson, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
He's known as the bravest man in baseball, the man who broke the color barrier in the major leagues. In 1947, Jackie Robinson made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African American to play in the modern era of Major League Baseball. But Jackie Robinson was more than a great baseball player. He was an all-around gifted athlete, a business man, a civil rights activist and a husband and father. His daughter, Sharon Robinson, tells a story of his bravery on and off the field in her newly released picture book, Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson.
A compelling storyteller, Sharon Robinson shares two ways in which her father "tested the ice," first in his baseball career and then later in a more literal manner on a small lake near their home in Connecticut. Sharon describes her father's legendary entry into the major leagues, a move that broke the color barrier and paved the way for others. She layers that historical period of time alongside a more personal one -- a touching family moment when her father tested the ice on a lake near their home, checking it for weak spots before he allowed his children and their friends to ice skate, despite his fear of water and his inability to swim. In an understated way through the use of powerful metaphor she effectively relates Robinson's strong character, his fortitude and patience, despite his fear and the obstacles he faced.

Testing The Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinsonby Sharon Robinson, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Scholastic Press (October 2009); 40 pages; ISBN 9780545052511
Book Source: Review copy provided for free by Scholastic Press and Big Honcho Media (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
Related Links:
NPR Story - "Jackie Robinson, 'Testing The Ice' For His Children"
Sharon Robinson -Biography on Scholastic.com
Kadir Nelson - Illustrator Website
In the early 1950s, legendary baseball hero Jackie Robinson literally "tested the ice" for his kids who so eagerly wanted to skate on the frozen lake near their home. Under Sharon Robinson's skillful authorship and Kadir Nelson's vivid illustrations, Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson also becomes a stunning metaphor for her father's remarkable racial breakthrough.


One (1) grand prize winner will receive a TESTING THE ICE prize pack that includes:
* Kidorable Hat, Glove & Scarf set (random styles – see image to the right)
* copy of Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson.
Four (4) additional winners will receive a copy of the book, Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson.
To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winners will be chosen at random and notified by email
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
87 comments:
Thanks for the chance to win such a beautiful book!
zenzart@hotmail.com
Our whole family loves the stories that we know about Jackie Robinson so we would love to read more! Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I subscribe via Google Reader.
nbmars AT yahoo DOT ocm
My husband is the biggest baseball fan ever! This would be a great book for us to read with our 4 boys, to get them learning about history without even realizing it. :)
I'm a follower (and subscriber :)
Follow and tweeted. http://twitter.com/dezroute/status/4918044109
What a marvelous prize package give
away! The wonderful book about Jackie Robinson would make a great combination gift for my sons!
The hat/glove and scarf set would
be very useful! Please enter my name in your delightful drawing. My husband and our sons are very much into baseball and its' heroes.
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I am an email subscriber to your site!
Again, many thanks.....Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Also, I follow you on Twitter!
"Tweet!"
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Thanks for this fun opportunity!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I love biography's written for children. Would love a copy for our home library.
I would love to share this book with the children I volunteer with at the local hospital. Thanks for the chance at winning it!
saulpaugh.chelsea(at)gmail(dot)com
-- Chelsea
Subscribed via email.
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-- Chelsea
Twitter follower and tweeted.
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-- Chelsea
I have always been a baseball fan. I would love to read this book to my class.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I subscribe via email.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
This is a wonderful opportunity to win a book like this. Please enter me into this giveaway.
Thank you,
Christine
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I subscribe via email.
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/4931262132
Thank you,
Christine
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This looks like such a great book. I would love to win!
my son would love this book mverno@roadrunner.com
My grandsons would love to read this book - thank you
I enjoy children's books based on true things, count me in.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
wow this book sounds great for the grandkids!!!
This would be nice to have.
It is so nice to have a book based on a true story that is inspirational.
This sounds like an interesting read. The only things I ever learned about Robinson were about his baseball ventures. I would love to read a little more about him, especially from his daughter's point of view.
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
I subscribe in reader.
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
I had never heard of Robinson before now. I think my son would enjoy this. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
email subscriber
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I'd love to give this to my daughter's class
ehhogan at bellsouth.net
Looks like a wonderful book that I would enjoy reading with my sons.
I subscribe to your RSS feed.
my daughter loves books and the kidorable goodies are just too cute
melanieinaz2003 at yahoo
twitter @kaiasmommy
tweet http://twitter.com/kaiasmommy/status/5117708891
I've heard a lot about Jackie Robinson...but never this story.
Sounds like an interesting book!
I love the style of illustrations in the book.
I follow.
My husband loves Jackie Robinson, so he'd really like this for our son, I think!
Thank you.
msurosey@yahoo.com
I follow (mail4rosey).
Thank you. msurosey@yahoo.com
I will love reading about Jackie Robinson!
letessha@yahoo.com
blog follower
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My husband is a big Jackie Robinson fan so this would be a great book for him to read to our daughter.
Adreisinger@aol.com
Email subscriber.
Adreisinger@aol.com
Twitter and tweet.
https://twitter.com/afabozzi/status/5185940738
Adreisinger@aol.com
This would make a wonderful gift for my grandson
copperllama at yahoo dot com
My husband would love this book...and my children, someday!
My grandson would absolutely love this book! What a great story this would be. Thank you!
I'm subscribed by email.
I follow on Twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/5290452579
I love kids' books that are more than just entertainment! This one looks both interesting and informative...
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I'm subscribed...
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
And we've posted about this at Winning Readings:
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/10/testing-ice_30.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I follow via google reader.
I'm a huge baseball fan and love reading anything about the subject.
Nycole
knycks1@aol.com
We're baseball fans and love to read. Great giveaway.
This book looks awesome, I'd love to share it with my family. I love kids books with a good background and meaning.
My brother is the biggest baseball fan!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
this looks like a great package thanks minsthins at optonline dot net
Great read, great contest!
My granddaughter would love this~Thanks so much for the chance :)
I follow you with Google
{Deb K}
I follow you on Twitter
Deb55106
Tweet!
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Looks like a great read for the kids!!
this is a wonderful contest
I love reading true stories.
fmd518(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog via google connect
fmd518(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good book
This looks like a very interesting book that my family would love
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
I subscribe to your rss feeds
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
I follow on twitter and tweeted
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kerrie@mayansfamily.com
I would love to win this for my daughter, thanks!
Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com
This would be great for my kids
Sounds like a really neat book!
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
My son would love this book and I would love him to learn about jackie robinson. Thank you!
tiffanys819 at gmail dot com
My daughter would lvoe the book/ They love sports.
cookster77@aol.com
I tweeted about the giveaway
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I am an email subscriber and following you on google friends
I would like to win this.
blossum_12@yahoo.com
This book sounds wonderful my daughter would love it
My daughter is interested in the civil rights movement. She would enjoy hearing about Jackie Robinson. garrettsambo@aol.com
Would LOVE the chance to win!!
Always love a new book!!
Thanks~!
I follow n a tweet~!!
http://twitter.com/lilshuga2001/status/5384557631
This must be an interesting book considering how racial discrimination was rampant in that era. Reminds me of President Obama being the 1st black President
subscribe via email
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
follow on twitter and tweeted
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This book sounds very interesting. I'll definitely check it out!
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