THE KID FROM DIAMOND STREET: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton by Audrey Vernick.  Illus. by Steven Salerno.  Clarion Books: New York, 2016.  40p. ISBN 9780544611634 hc. $17.99    Gr. 2- 4   JUV NF   796.357092

Edith Houghton claimed to have been "..born with a baseball in my hand," and played baseball so well that she was chosen to play on a women's team in the 1920's at the tender age of 10.  The Philadelphia Bobbies, named for the bobbed hairstyle that was popular with independent women at the time, was the only team for women, so they played against men's teams. The Bobbies had a chance to play exhibition games in Japan, another country that loved baseball, and traveled there by train and ocean liner.  Besides playing baseball with the Japanese teams, the women also experienced Japanese culture, a rare opportunity for most Americans.  Edith returned home and continued to play ball until she was 19.  Salerno enriches the story with vivid illustrations from charcoal, ink and gouache techniques that work perfectly with the text.  One of the best is a bird' eye view of the baseball team practicing on the ships deck while sailing to Japan.  A follow-up biography at the back of the book includes several photos of Edith and interesting facts about her.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI