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above: the original art used on the book jacket cover
The Kid from Diamond Street -written by Audrey Vernick & illustrated by Steven Salerno published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.
True story of Philadelphia girl Edith Houghton who became a professional baseball player at age ten and in 1925 at age 13 she was a star players on the all-female baseball team touring Japan and competing against their all-male baseball teams.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
"Salerno's mixed-media artwork channels the footloose energy of the Jazz Age" -Publishers Weekly
“Vernick offers plenty of details about Edith’s life on the baseball circuit, telling the tale in a conversational tone that brings the events to life and indicating that the concept of women playing alongside and against men was, if not common, perfectly acceptable... A forgotten star shines anew. Salerno's illustrations, variously rendered in charcoal, ink, and gouache, as well as digital color, lovingly evoke the time period and the settings” -Kirkus Reviews
“The compelling story and energetic illustrations make this an excellent addition.” -School Library Journal
“Salerno’s mixed-media illustrations are a lively amalgam of action and scenic panorama” -Bulletin
“This timely message about playing simply for the love of the game, as opposed to personal glory or celebrity, comes through loud and clear” -Booklist
“Illustrator Steven Salerno uses strong lines and rich colors to bring a sense of fun and nostalgia to Edith Houghton's remarkable story" -The Wall Street Journal
-A Junior Library Guild Selection
-2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List
-A NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
-An ILA/CBC Children's Choice
- A 2019 Beehive Book Award Nominee (Utah)
- 2018-19 Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Nominee
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above: cropped view of the cover for The Kid from Diamond Street
- A Junior Library Guild Selection
see Steven’s complete list of published picture books to date
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: young Edith. age ten, at the team tryouts.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: spread scene showing the travel route by train and steamship that little Edith took to Japan in 1925.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: preliminary SKETCH: a Philadelphia newspaper reporter (circa 1923) covering the baseball games of young Edith Houghton.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: cropped view of scene with Edith and her teammates boarding a steam ship heading for Yokohama, Japan...
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: The all-female American baseball team practicing on the deck of the steamship President Jefferson, enroute to Japan in 1925.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: The all-female baseball team from USA arrives in Yokohama in 1925 -traveling through the city via rickshaw to their hotel.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.
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above: thirteen year old Edith Houghton at bat in her very first game played in Japan.
View a posting on Steven's blog to see how the illustrations for this picture book were created.