Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez Rayo, 2008, $17.99
ISBN: 978-0061227790
Age/Grade Level: 8-12 years
Illustrated with pictures by Rudy Guierrez that look like they are moving on the page, author Monica Brown writes a picture book biography for young readers of Pele, the king of soccer. Pele was born in Tres Coracoes, Brazil. His family was so poor that he sometimes worked shining shoes and selling meat pies to help them. He would play soccer with his father every night in the streets. He would also play soccer with his friends using a grapefruit or a sock stuffed with newspapers to substitute for a soccer ball. When Pele and his friends started a soccer team, they were called the "Barefoot Team" by opposing teams because no one on Pele's team could afford shoes. As a teenager, Pele tried out for a professional team. At age 15, he was playing professional soccer. A satisfying true rags-to-riches story about the king of soccer.
Reviewer: Patricia Campbell, Orange County Public Library/La Palma Branch
