Becoming Babe Ruth

A wonderful biography written in narrative form about Babe Ruth. While most of us know he was a famous baseball player, this book focuses on the role St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys played in his life. This is the reform school Ruth grew up at since the age of 7. I recently read this to my class of second graders who loved the story! You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this book. A great story about someone who never forgets the boys or the place he grew up.

Very informative for a very young Babe Ruth fan!

My third graders loved this book! Babe Ruth hit a home run in our classroom!

This book made a great gift for a young, sport-lovings nephew. Good portrayal of "how it used to be" as Ruth was an orphan.

really good for a child of 9 not good for an adolescent.

Babe Ruth was known for a lot of things, but baseball was his greatest passion. In this book, Tavares takes the reader on the journey as George Herman Ruth develops this initial passion into a career and becomes a baseball legend. A mischief maker from the time he was little, his desperate parents finally put him into Saint Mary's Industrial School for Boys. George hated the rules, the work, and going to class. The only thing he didn't hate was the opportunity to play baseball almost every day. He like the other boys loved to watch Brother Matthias hit home runs. Over time and with a great deal of practice, George becomes a fabulous ball player and even when he leaves to play in the minors and then the majors, he never forgets where he learned to play. He maintains contact with the school and when the school is devastated by fire, Babe Ruth steps forward to help. This is an appealing and enjoyable book about how a young boy turns his passion into a life. I appreciated the fact that the book mentions Ruth's continued mischief making without giving a lot of specifics. I also liked the author note at the end explaining the research he did and the fact that there were few images to refer to for the illustrations and how that contributed to the legend of Babe Ruth. A great book for baseball fans.

What an excellent book about the famed Babe Ruth! I gave this book 5/5 stars. I would recommend this story for middle and upper elementary age students. I thought the writer did excellent with highlighting the important times in Babe Ruth's career. I thought the illustrations where excellent and really helped keep the story entertaining. I loved this book and think all children, especially those interested in baseball, should read this book!

The illustrations are touching. The story is a miracle—simple, believable, and sympathetic, while avoiding the usual pitfalls that plague Ruth historians: sensation, vulgarity, and grotesquery. In other words, it is The Truth.Of course, I was delighted to see my father’s book, The Life That Ruth Built, listed in the bibliography. Knowing how much my father would approve, I will make sure that his grandchildren get to read Becoming Babe Ruth.

Great book for you kids!!