The Bookshelf Podcast: Richard Michelson

Regular visitors know I rarely consider juvenile literature, but once in awhile an “important” book comes along that deserves attention. Previously it was Kadir Nelson’s We Are The Ship, an introduction to young readers about the Negro Leagues. This time it’s Richard Michelson’s Lipman Pike: America’s First Home Run King, a picture book about the first Jewish Major Leaguer as well as the game’s first home run champion. Pike actually led the league for three straight seasons. Of course, in those days it didn’t take too many to do the trick: “Lip” his four, seven, and four, respectively.

I had the opportunity to speak with Michelson recently about the process of putting together this historic story for little kids. It’s not as easy as one might think.

FYI, Michelson is scheduled to appear at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse on Tuesday, May 24, at 7 p.m.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

0Shares

Tagged as: Kadir Nelson, Lip Pike, Lipman Pike, Richard Michelson

{ 1 comment }

1 Guest April 1, 2011 at 1:45 pm: Nice interview with Rich. The text and illustrations in Lipman Pike compliment each other nicely, and a parent reading the book with a child will find that the text lends itself to pausing and talking about some of the social challenges that Lip faced during his rise to baseball fame.