I seldom begin a book review by mentioning front matter, but author/illustrator Don Tate’s dedication of Pigskins to Paintbrushes to his “friends at Highlights where this story began” includes strong supporters of children’s literature and inclusion in all its aspects in the Highlights team. This book fits naturally into the same frame.
Ernest Barnes knows that boys are supposed to be good athletes, especially in the hardworking poor African American community where he grew up. Last chosen for sports, his interests rest more in the art books he finds in the attorney’s office where his mother works. The target of bullying because of his love of art, Ernest decided to try out for football and failed in high school. His mother and the coach used prayer and fried chicken to intervene and keep him playing as #73 for the Hillside Hornets.
Oddly, his weight-lifting coach was the one who could talk art, football, grades, and body-building to Ernest and planted the seed that art and athletics could be “both” instead of “either/or.” After he became successful as an athlete, Ernest received athletic scholarships for college and went on to play professional football. Still, he never left his art behind and even began to see parallels between art and football.
A sportswriter at the beginning of his athletic career misspelled his name as “Ernie” and it stuck. Even during a successful football career with the Baltimore Colts, New York Titans, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos, there were those who questioned his interest in art. He could not give it up even through his football career. Art remained fulfilling to him when his football days were finished as he became a sought-after artist for museums and private sales.
In addition to a wonderful true story that validates artistic talent for boys, Don Tate includes an afterword, author’s note, and extra materials for those interested in more of the story. Don’s own art work shows his empathy with the story he tells. My favorite page for his art shows Ernie drawing on the sidelines with artist sketch renditions of the human body in shadowy bubbles.