At Gleason's Gym - Hardcover

Lewin, Ted

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1596432314 ISBN 13: 9781596432314

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2007

Synopsis

A KNOCKOUT OF A BOOK about the world's most famous gym.

"At Gleason's Gym the world works out. It's down on the Brooklyn waterfront just a left hook away from the Brooklyn Bridge." This spectacular book puts you smack in the middle of the action. But it's more than a book about boxing: It's about the heart of a community, and about the power of practice, perseverance, and staying true to yourself. Paintings, sketches and words by Caldecott Honor artist and former professional wrestler Ted Lewin are your guide to this extraordinary place.

About this title

About the Author:

Ted Lewin has written and/or illustrated at least 45 children's books. In order to finance art school, he became a wrestler--and so began a 15-year part-time career that eventually inspired his autobiography, I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler (ALA Notable Children's Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Booklist Editor's Choice). He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* Gleason's gym in Brooklyn is where the world works out. Muhammad Ali and Jake La Motta have trained there. Now, nine-year-old Sugar Boy Younan, National Silver Gloves Champion, 110-pound division, goes there to shadow box and spar with partners. This glorious tribute to Gleason's and to the men, women, boys, and girls who work out there packs a punch of its own, with a text that is both moving and informative and with vibrant artwork so realistic that readers can practically smell the sweat, which hits you in the face like a roundhouse right. Lewin works on two levels here. He conveys the span of the gym's history while tucking in moments of intimacy that convey what the place means to those who go there. At the same time, he follows Sugar Boy's progress, showing his commitment to a sport he loves. Children will be surprised at the range of people at the gym, though some adults will be dismayed at the young age of several participants. But Lewin offers no apologies. Boxing is the business of the gym, and he conveys this nonstop action in the paintings and pencil drawings, accentuating movement in words that rip across the pages: Thump, Bam, Pop, Smack. Yet this book is as much about feelings as it is about action. Although words like friendship, determination, devotion, and love aren't stamped across the pages, they are still there. Cooper, Ilene

About this edition

• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1596432314
• ISBN 13: 9781596432314
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Lewin Ted