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Growing Up Pedro

The athletic success of stellar baseball pitcher Pedro Martinez began with his Dominican Republic childhood, watching his big brother Ramon play ball and practicing his own throw by aiming rocks at ripe mangos in the trees behind their home. Following in Ramon’s footsteps, Pedro attended the baseball academy run by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Dominican Republic, and then left his home to play ball in the United States. Encouraged by Ramon to learn English, Pedro worked hard at his language skills while continuing to move up through the Dodgers’ Minor League system. At first devastated by a trade to the Montreal Expos in 1993, Pedro soon excelled as a starting pitcher. His success on the mound was recognized with the 1997 Cy Young Award, and a trade to the Boston Red Sox where he continued to lead his team, eventually winning the 2004 World Series. This compelling picture book emphasizes that throughout both brothers’ careers, their support and encouragement of one another and their ongoing commitment to the people of their home country never faltered. ©2015 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Illustrated by Matt Tavares

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6-10
Age Range: PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7) Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format: Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
Subjects: Biography Brothers Dominicans and Dominican Americans Immigration and Immigrants Sports
Diversity subjects: Black/African Latine

Publisher: Candlewick
Publish Year: 2015
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9780763668242

CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 796 Tavares

Growing Up Pedro