Review by Booklist Review
Twisting multiple perspectives, adding swirls of color, and limning distorted figures with loose auras of yellow and blue, Gutiérrez creates high-energy, full-bleed illustrations that kick up the unexceptional English-over-Spanish text of this tribute to Pelé, still soccer's O Rei (The King). Every evening, no matter how tired they were, Pelé and his father, Dondinho, would play soccer in the streets. Whoops! Sometimes Pelé accidentally broke a window or kicked a ball over a fence. Brown retraces Pelé's youth and swift rise to fame, closing with a dramatic account of his 1,000th goal. He went on to score 280 more, and has remained active since his retirement, but readers will find that sort of information only in the fine-print author's note at the end. Nonetheless, at least visually, this makes a stirring alternative to Lesa Cline-Ransome's Young Pelé: Soccer's First Star (2007), illustrated by James Ransome.--Peters, John Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-A bilingual picture book biography about Pelé, the first man in the history of the sport to score 1,000 goals and become a living legend. From the poverty-filled streets of Brazil to the packed stadiums of the World Cup, the dynamic illustrations convey the vigor and verve of the athlete's life. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In poetic bilingual prose, the text encapsulates the Brazilian soccer star's life in a way that goes straight to the essence of Pele's enormous appeal. The story's climax is the scoring of his thousandth goal. Energetic color- and pattern-filled illustrations flow like the arc of a soccer ball cutting through the air. An author's note tells more about Pele's later life. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This beautifully designed story of soccer's best athlete begins in the midst of a game with the star about to score. "Pel! Pel! O Rei! Pel! The King!" shouts the roaring crowd. Brown's exuberant introduction transitions to a more sedate narrative that depicts the poor but hopeful upbringing of a boy in a small Brazilian town, playing soccer with nothing but a grapefruit or a newspaper-filled sock. When ten-year-old Pel sees his father's disappointment after Brazil's World Cup loss, his promise to win one for his dad foreshadows his hard work and escalating talent. Gutirrez's alluring multi-style gouache paintings swoop and swirl with energy and color. An abstract Pel in a sweeping, action-filled kick appears against more realistic portraits of a boy and his father, all superimposed over backgrounds and borders that reflect indigenous patterns. The stunning images place Pel's achievements within the context of his native country. Told in a dual English/Spanish text, this inspiring blend of art and story scores a winning goal. (Picture book/biography. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
