![Picture](/uploads/5/5/9/4/55948695/5159645_orig.jpg)
Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud That Changed Baseball, by David A. Kelly, illustrated by Oliver Dominguez, 2013, New York, NY: Millbrook. 32 pages. ISBN: 978-0761380924.
Age/Interest Level: 7-10 years
Lexile Level: N/A
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: This nonfiction work looks at Lena Blackburne, creator of the famous Baseball Rubbing Mud. It revolutionized the game and still remains a sports secret.
Plot Summary: Lena Blackburne started playing baseball in the majors in 1910, but he wasn’t a great player. Still, he loved the game and wanted to leave a mark on it. A major problem at the time was that baseballs were often made wet before pitching, leaving them a soggy mess. One day, while fishing at an undisclosed location, Lena stepped into some mud and had a wonderful idea that led to the gooey mixture still used on baseballs to this day.
Critical Evaluation: This is a wonderful look at a very niche piece of history, yet young sports fanatics would love a story like this. It’s the classic story of finding a problem and being the right person to solve it, promoting creative thinking. It’s also the story of perseverance, as Lena always wanted to be big in baseball. Now, as the solution is still used, he has made a larger mark than most players ever will. The mixed-media illustrations also pair well with the text, the muted tones almost seeming like a thin layer of mud has been placed over each panel.
Why Included: As a niche history picture book, this is a fantastic addition to any collection, particularly for its fun look at America’s favorite pastime.
Age/Interest Level: 7-10 years
Lexile Level: N/A
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: This nonfiction work looks at Lena Blackburne, creator of the famous Baseball Rubbing Mud. It revolutionized the game and still remains a sports secret.
Plot Summary: Lena Blackburne started playing baseball in the majors in 1910, but he wasn’t a great player. Still, he loved the game and wanted to leave a mark on it. A major problem at the time was that baseballs were often made wet before pitching, leaving them a soggy mess. One day, while fishing at an undisclosed location, Lena stepped into some mud and had a wonderful idea that led to the gooey mixture still used on baseballs to this day.
Critical Evaluation: This is a wonderful look at a very niche piece of history, yet young sports fanatics would love a story like this. It’s the classic story of finding a problem and being the right person to solve it, promoting creative thinking. It’s also the story of perseverance, as Lena always wanted to be big in baseball. Now, as the solution is still used, he has made a larger mark than most players ever will. The mixed-media illustrations also pair well with the text, the muted tones almost seeming like a thin layer of mud has been placed over each panel.
Why Included: As a niche history picture book, this is a fantastic addition to any collection, particularly for its fun look at America’s favorite pastime.