A home run for this book

I LOVE baseball!  When I was a kid it was my dream to be the first girl to play major league baseball. So when I opened the book Call Me Roberto: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso and read: 

“I was born to be a baseball player.” 

I was hooked! I think this quote resonates with many of us who have had similar hopes and dreams. 

This book tells the story of Roberto Clemente, one of the best baseball players of all time. From his beginnings in Puerto Rico, using sticks and cans to play baseball, through his experience in the major leagues setting records despite facing discrimination and injustice. Rudy Gutierrez’s dynamic, bold, and colorful illustrations beautifully mirror Roberto Clemente as a person and player - reflecting his confidence, baseball abilities, and Puerto Rican heritage. The end pages provide more information through a detailed author’s note, images from his career, a glossary of English translations from within the text, and a timeline of his career. 

I enjoy a good sports story and I wasn’t disappointed. Often biographies about sports figures put the person on a pedestal of greatness that most of us can’t relate to. Nathalie Alonso authentically chronicled Roberto’s journey, highlighting shared human experiences and emotions that allowed me to relate to Roberto. The story felt personal. If you enjoy books where the hero overcomes adversity, or you are a huge sports fan and love a good sports story, this nonfiction book is for you!

Call Me Roberto is a 2025 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Honor Book. Read more about all the 2025 ALA Youth Media Award Winners here.

--reviewed by Jen P.