The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton

The Kid from Diamond Street chronicles the true story of Edith Houghton, who became a baseball player for the Philadelphia Bobbies at age 10 in the 1920s. Her journey from Philadelphia's baseball diamonds to playing against men's teams captures a unique moment in sports history. Heiligman details Houghton's childhood experiences through carefully researched historical facts and personal accounts, including her 1925 baseball tour of Japan. The narrative highlights the challenges and triumphs of a young female athlete in an era when women rarely had opportunities in professional sports. The book incorporates archival photographs and newspaper clippings that document Houghton's baseball career and provide context for the time period. Primary source materials bring authenticity to this biography aimed at middle-grade readers. This biography celebrates perseverance and barrier-breaking achievement while examining gender roles in early 20th century America. Through Houghton's story, readers gain perspective on the evolution of women's participation in professional sports.

Readers appreciate this children's biography for bringing attention to a lesser-known baseball pioneer. Multiple reviews note the engaging illustrations by Steven Salerno and praise how the story makes baseball history accessible to young readers. Liked: - Clear, straightforward storytelling that keeps children's attention - Details about Edith's childhood that kids can relate to - Historical photos included at the end - Focus on female achievement in male-dominated sports Disliked: - Some found the narrative too simple for older readers - A few reviewers wanted more details about Houghton's adult life Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (17 ratings) One teacher reported the book was "perfect for discussing gender roles and perseverance" with 3rd graders. A parent noted their baseball-loving daughter "asked to read it three nights in a row." Some librarians mentioned successfully using it during Women's History Month programming.

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⚾ At age 10, Edith Houghton was the youngest player ever to join the Philadelphia Bobbies, a professional women's baseball team in the 1920s. 🌏 The Philadelphia Bobbies toured Japan in 1925, making them among the first American women baseball players to play internationally. 👔 In 1946, Edith Houghton became MLB's first female scout when she was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies. ✍️ Author Deborah Heiligman discovered Edith's story while researching a different book and was so captivated she spent five years researching Houghton's life. 🏆 The book received a starred review from Kirkus and was named to the New York Public Library's 100 Best Books for Kids list in 2016.