This is a wonderful book! It has great graphics! It shows young girls what they can do if they put their mind to it! Keep working! You can do it!

I love reading books about historical figures I have never heard of before, so I really enjoyed this book! A great addition to any elementary or middle school collection, and perfect for a read aloud at the beginning of baseball season, or for Black History or Women's History Month!

Debut author Karen Swanson has written an interesting biography that is sure to inspire young girls. As a youngster, "Tomboy" Stone faced both gender and racial discrimination. Baseball was a boy's sport, but she preferred cleats to ice skates and would not be deterred. The book begins with a quote from Toni Stone and a large illustration of the woman in her mature years. Then the book tells the story of this remarkable woman. Renown illustrator Laura Freeman has created realistic pictures that have a style that captures the feel of the era and helps the reader visualize the time. Her pictures of Toni's face draw the eye, and help bring the woman to life. The story is written for youngsters, but the afterward includes a well researched detailed timeline that will please the older readers. This book is perfect for young sports fans or for anyone who enjoys reading biographies. I accessed a review copy of this book from the publisher, but I can honestly recommend this book. It is fine example of girl power, that teaches girls that they can chase their dreams.

As a baseball fan, I absolutely loved Swinging Into History Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball's First Woman Player by Karen L. Swanson! Swinging Into History Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball's First Woman Player tells the story Toni Stone, the first woman and the first black woman to play professional baseball. Toni endeared me for her strength, grit, and gumption to do whatever it took to play her favorite sport, baseball. I had not heard of Toni's story before and am thankful I now know her story. I highly recommend Swinging Into History Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball's First Woman Player by Karen L. Swanson! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

This is a nonfiction biography of a real girl who grew up and broke barriers.
Toni Stone was the first woman of any color to break into professional baseball, and she is Black, too! She was a tomboy who never gave up and took any available help to improve her game until she made it and did her very best to prove that she was just as good as the guys.
About 80% of the book is a complex pictorial biography aimed at encouraging young people to do their best and not give up. The remainder is a result of due diligence in researching the history of this fantastic woman and a timeline of her life and team affiliations.
St Paul Minnesota has established Toni Stone Field.
The illustrations by Laura Freeman are fun, clear, appropriately colorful, and clear.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available Aug 06, 2024

Swinging into History is the type of story that young girls need to hear. Don't settle when it comes to your dreams. Push back when things stand in your way. Toni Stone is an inspiration. The story is told beautifully to make sure you root for the protagonist and the illustrations transport you to that time period. Wonderful biography.

Marcenia (Toni) Stone is considered the first female to play for a professional big league baseball team, joining the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues, replacing Hank Aaron. This picture book biography describes her journey, facing discrimination and other obstacles to reach her dream. After retirement, Stone lived and coached high school baseball in Oakland, CA. The text is a little too long to use as a classroom read-aloud but works well for independent readers. The full color digital artwork adds details to the text, and page decorations include boxed quotations from Stone. Back matter includes a detailed author’s note containing more information on Stone, a timeline, two b&w photos, and extensive bibliography. This will be a great asset during Black History and Women’s History months, or displays on baseball.

I was thrilled to see there was a picture book about Toni Stone coming out this year. She, and all all the Negro League players, have been a mostly ignored or forgotten part of professional history until the last few years. With NLB stats now considered part of MLB records, it seems fitting to highlight many of its forgotten characters.

I quite enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They stand out from the background in a way that really grabs your attention. Where I was a little disappointed was in the narrative. I feel that it doesn't do enough to contextualize the Negro Leagues and Toni's place in them. I also felt like it ends abruptly after her first game as a starter. She ultimately played two seasons as a professional player but that information is relegated to the author's note and timeline, rather than the full narrative.

This was a cute little story. I really enjoyed reading it to my son. I would recommend it to others, especially teachers of young children and parents of young children. My son enjoyed it.

The book was beautifully written. The author made careful word choices that were very impactful. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it.

Have you heard of Toni Stone? No? Neither had I until I read this book. Toni Stone was not only the first woman to play professional baseball, but she was also the black woman! This nonfiction picture book walks the reader through the trials and tribulations of her rise in the sport. It is well-researched and includes quotes from various people about Toni and her journey. As a reader, I found it a little hard to read though. For me, I wish it was either a narrative nonfiction book, telling the information in a story like fashion, or a research nonfiction book giving the information in a matter of fact way. It was a combination of the two which made it harder to read. Overall, the information was interesting, and I would recommend it to find out more about Toni Stone.

This picture book biography tells a powerful true story about talent, hard work, and perseverance through discrimination. Toni Stone was the first woman, and the first Black woman, to play in Major League baseball, and this book tells her story through vivid text and detailed illustrations. The book also includes quotes from her, and has additional information in the backmatter. This will appeal to kids and adults who like learning about hidden histories, and to readers who like sports.

Pjs, cuddling, and story-time before bed is a favorite at our house! The last couple weeks the kids had so much fun reading some new material I was given advanced copies of. It’s cute how now they ask what new books I have to read. As soon as I’m finished they will tell me what they loved about the book. My great little reviewers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚📖 @netgalley #netgalley

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