About the Book

Fernando Valenzuela was just barely out of his teens when he came to the U.S. from Mexico to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 1980s, Mexican Americans rarely followed baseball. But after Fernando pitched eight winning games, the entire country was talking about him. People in Mexico began listening to games on their radios, and more Mexican Americans in LA began going to games. A rookie on a historic streak, Fernando became an international star! And the fans gained something too: a hero they could call their own.

Baseball reporter Nathalie Alonso and author of Call Me Roberto! joins Mexican American illustrator John Parra to celebrate this sensational player who was known for his signature pitching style.

• A Q&A with Nathalie Alonso and John Parra, creators of ¡VIVA VALENZUELA!