Lou Gehrig : The Luckiest Man [Library Binding] Adler, David A and Widener, Terry

Lou Gehrig's perseverance is legendary. During fourteen years as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, he played in a record 2,130 consecutive games, earning himself the nickname Iron Horse. Lou loved baseball and considered himself a very lucky man, even though on his thirty-sixth birthday he was diagnosed with a rare and fatal disease.

The story of Lou Gehrig, the heroic Yankee who battled with ALS, was inspirational far beyond Yankee Stadium. David Adler's spare biography tells Gehrig's story just as the athlete lived: with unassuming simplicity. It's a wise choice, since the story is so affecting on its own. Another wise choice was Adler's decision to remain vague about the details of Gehrig's illness. The story is no less affecting without them, and probably contains enough sadness for any child. As good as this book is, Terry Widener's illustrations multiply its impact enormously.

[Recommended for ages 5-9. Older siblings will probably be willing to hang around to hear it though.]