#Cybils Picture Book Biographies: Growing Up Pedro

Today we have another picture book biography nominated for a 2015 Cybils award in the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category that is illustrated by the author. Growing Up Pedro: How the Martinez Brothers Made It from the Dominican Republic All the Way to the Major Leagues by Matt Tavares encapsulates the life of baseball great Pedro Martínez.

What do you do when your dream is to play professional and your bigger, stronger older brother is already living that dream? If you are Pedro Martínez, you work even harder to achieve your goal.

As for the book, one huge plus of the author also being the illustrator is that the text and illustrations fit together seamlessly. The book is big, with many full page illustrations, which make it a perfect for holding up in front of a group and reading at story time. Add a story that is exciting and compelling to read and this one is sure to be a crowdpleaser.

Readers who are not baseball fans are going to find Growing Up Pedro heartwarming and inspiring. For children who dream to be athletes, it is a must read!

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Publisher: Candlewick (February 10, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0763668249
ISBN-13: 978-0763668242

Have you seen this book yet? What did you think?

Monday: Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine
Tuesday: Draw What You See: The Life and Art of Benny Andrews
Wednesday: Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton

Disclosure: This book was supplied by my local public library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.