Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens
Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, it is the first book in a series, "Strength beyond Measure," that I designed as curricula to bridge historical omissions; feature notable achievements of both known and little known individuals from diverse populations; highlight proactive ingenuity and resilience utilized to overcome obstacles; and, actively engage readers in the books with opportunities to think critically, form predictions, and make intriguing discoveries about the main characters through clues along the way. As a result, Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, was written to heighten awareness about the first American women's professional baseball team, and all of the players were African American. It was also important to show the effectiveness of positive action steps in the face of unfair practices, and the importance of hard work and perseverance to achieve goals. Overall, caps off for the timeless reverberating message demonstrated by the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens and ShaTayshia, "Strong has always been the real pretty."
Author’s Note
Strength beyond Measure: I am thrilled to introduce the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens (an African American women’s baseball team, and the first professional women’s baseball team in the United States) to readers of all ages. Told through a story of historical fiction, it was important to illuminate the strength, ingenuity, and resilience that kept the baseball players in good stead in the midst of the reconstruction era, and the real whirlwind of adversity that roared in with it. It was also a special honor for my book about the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens to be released during the centennial anniversary of Negro League Baseball (NLB: 1920-2020). Over 100 years later, such an impressive number of men (and three women) who were able to withstand extremely stressful conditions while performing incredible athletic feats arguably makes NLB the most powerful baseball league in the game. Combine that with the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, skilled athletes in their own right who demonstrated that strong has always been the real pretty, and a dynamic powerhouse of amazing baseball history in America unfolds.
Dream Big! Live Bigger!!
Blessings,
Dr. Sabrina A Brinson
~ Endorsement by N.A.M.E Founder & 1st President ~
This book is an excellent resource for elementary students to learn about the wonderful contributions of individuals from diverse populations like the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens. It can be a great read aloud to facilitate extensions into additional student-led activities. Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens will also serve as a masterpiece for upcoming, African-American young women who need the aspiration, courage and drive to embark in new and innovative fields. I commend the author for this outstanding piece of literature. This will be a motivational instrument for the success of many young athletes in the future, and a great asset to multicultural libraries for children in homes, schools, and communities.
– Dr. Rose Marie Duplichain Duhon-Sells, Founder & 1st President, National Association for Multicultural Education; and, Founder & 1st President, National Association for Peace Education and Anti-Violence
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Five Star Reviews on Amphorae Publishing,
Barnes and Noble, and Google Books
ShaTayshia has baseball in her blood and she’s determined to ace tryouts. When a familiar stranger appears at the field, ShaTayshia learns more from her than how to throw a guaranteed strike - she learns the amazing story of The Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, an African American women’s baseball team and the first professional women’s baseball team in the United States. ShaTayshia is inspired by the Dolly Varden’s strength and spirit but when things don’t go as planned on the diamond, ShaTayshia finds she needs her new friend, and the legacy of the Dolly Vardens, to move forward.
Young readers will enjoy the vivid descriptions and fun, dual-baseball story lines. Older children will relate to the universal experience of disappointment and, like ShaTayshia, find meaning in the Dolly Vardens’ resilience and their ability to “shake it off and step up”. The witty and engaging dialogue makes this an excellent read-aloud for parents and caregivers who are seeking to help children realize their worth and work through life’s challenges - or who just want to share a great baseball tale.
-– Eva Pelkey, Librarian and Coordinator, Midtown Carnegie Library
Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens (the first women's professional baseball team), and indeed I did, through the eyes of a spirited young girl who became determined and confident in her skills, to overcome obstacles, through the discovery of her rich heritage. This extraordinary piece of history could do just that for students as they immerse themselves into the everyday challenges of ShaTayshia. Through her encounter with a distant relative, she learned to "shake it off and step up, because can't is in a can."
I am so glad that I got a chance to "Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens," and so will you. A great read and must have for home-school-, and community libraries.
-- Dr. Rosalyn Thomas, Coordinator, Office of Diversity, Drury University
Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. As a kid, growing up, there weren't many black characters in the books I coveted so much. It was nearly impossible to find a face that looked like my own in classic children's tales. Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens meets and exceeds expectations that empower young readers of all backgrounds to imagine themselves as the very characters or historical figures they have the pleasure of reading about. As an added bonus, young women will be struck by the recognition of themselves in the story, a validation of their existence as human beings, and an acknowledgment of their value by someone who understands who they are.
Enjoy a little known history lesson that packs an impressive literary punch as you introduce this book to the youth in your life for the first time and watch their
imaginations come to life.
-– Dr. TaJuan Wilson, Associate President and Chief Diversity Officer, Georgia Southern University
Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens by Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson. What an unforgettable joy to read! You will be drawn into these pages as if you were the lead character of this true tale of history. I would give this book a 10 ⭐️ rating!! ECE Teachers don’t let this one get away! Tip! Be prepared to buy some red yarn!
-- Min. Christine Peoples, Peoples History Café
The author of Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens takes you to that moment in time to watch the first professional African American women’s baseball team. You feel history opening up in front of your eyes right from the page where her conversational style brings the story to life and sits you on the bench listening about baseball and learning how to navigate life. Intertwining the past with the present Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson shows we still face some of the same struggles today, but because of those who came before us we have opportunities that those ancestors could scarcely imagine possible. The reader will be introduced to what unfair is and will not feel accomplished until they have had the chance to face an unfair obstacle where they ‘stepped up and shook it off’ following the Dolly Vardens lead. The language Sabrina uses creates a sense of belonging to something bigger than just the reader's circle of influence. Something more exciting and important. The book's author does not talk down to the reader and pushes their involvement in the story while teaching life lessons. The reality that not everyone gets a medal, recognizing and dealing with disappointment, while not forgetting to work hard for what is important to you. Lessons we must not forget to teach a new generation.
After reading this book I will never look at a ball of yarn the same. To see red yarn will now make my heart race with excitement now that I have been blessed with getting to know the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens. Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens is a sheer delight that captures the reader from the beginning as it opens pages of little known historical facts and challenges the reader to put together clues to embrace the story’s full meaning and possibilities. Author Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson teaches skills of resiliency and ingenuity as she offers a story to be read over and over. Hidden history is uncovered by author Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson in the first of the “Strength Beyond Measure” series as she brings to us Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens. Where readers are quickly engaged in the lives of the first professional African American women’s baseball team and the power of a ball of red yarn. Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson’s education is only matched by her passion for bringing reading to this generation. She brings to us a new title, Meet the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, the first in her “Strength Beyond Measure” series.
Dr. Brinson challenges the reader to put together clues as she introduces little known facts in history that delight the reader and leave them wanting to learn more.
-- Elizabeth Obrey, family advocate, disability author and parent.
For more information on the Strength Beyond Measure: Reading for Ingenuity and Resilience initiative, as well as the award-winning, national, literacy programs, Boys Booked on Barbershops (B-BOB) and Girls Booked on Beautyshops (G-BOB), Click Here