Sullivan, George (Edward) 1927-
SULLIVAN, George (Edward) 1927-
PERSONAL: Born August 11, 1927, in Lowell, MA; son of Timothy J. (a salesman) and Cecilia (a registered nurse; maiden name, Shea) Sullivan; married Muriel Moran, May 24, 1952; children: Timothy. Education: Fordham University, B.S., 1952. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Photography, photographs, tennis.
ADDRESSES: Home—330 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016. Agent—Eleanor Wood, Spectrum Literary Agency, 111 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10011. E-mail—[email protected].
CAREER: Popular Library (publishing house), New York, NY, public relations director, 1952-55; American Machine and Foundry Co., Inc., New York, NY, publicity manager, 1955-61; freelance writer, 1962—. Fordham University, Bronx, NY, adjunct professor of nonfiction writing, 1969-72, 1979-81. Military service: U.S. Navy, 1945-48.
MEMBER: PEN, Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
WRITINGS:
nonfiction
(With Frank Clause) How to Win at Bowling, Fleet (New York, NY), 1961.
(With Frank Clause and Patty McBride) Junior Guide to Bowling, Fleet (New York, NY), 1963.
The Story of Cassius Clay, Fleet (New York, NY), 1964.
Harness Racing, foreword by Walter J. Michael, Fleet (New York, NY), 1964.
(With Irving Crane) The Young Sportsman's Guide to Pocket Billiards, Nelson (New York, NY), 1964.
The Story of the Peace Corps, introduction by Sargent Shriver, Fleet (New York, NY), 1964, revised edition, 1965.
Boats: A Guidebook to Boating Procedures, Maintenance, and Fun!, Maco (New York, NY), 1965.
(With Luther Lassiter) Billiards for Everyone, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1965.
Camping Guidebook: Outdoor Living, from Luxury to Roughing It, Maco (New York, NY), 1965.
The Complete Guide to Softball, introduction by Don E. Porter, Fleet (New York, NY), 1965.
(With Larry Scott) Fell's Teen-Age Guide to Skin and Scuba Diving, Fell (New York, NY), 1965, revised edition, 1975.
How Do They Make It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1965.
Better Boxing for Boys, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1966.
Camping: Skills, Places, Pleasures, Maco (New York, NY), 1966.
The Champions' Guide to Golf, introduction by Mike Turnesa, Fleet (New York, NY), 1966.
How Do They Grow It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1966.
The Personal Story of Lynda and Luci Johnson, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1966.
Philip Vampatella, Fighter Pilot: The Complete Life Story of a College Dropout Who Became One of the First Aircraft Carrier Pilots to Fly over Vietnam, Nelson (New York, NY), 1966.
(With Finn Eddy Larsen) Skiing for Boys and Girls, Follett (Chicago IL), 1966.
(With Harry Kramp) Swimming for Boys and Girls, Follett (Chicago IL), 1966.
Tennis, Follett (Chicago IL), 1966.
Wilt Chamberlain, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1966, revised edition, 1971.
(With Wes Ellis) All-Weather Golf, foreword by Tommy Bolt, Van Nostrand (Princeton, NJ), 1967.
Better Swimming and Diving for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1967, revised edition, 1982.
Better Track and Field Events for Boys, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1967, revised edition published as Better Track for Boys, 1985.
The Complete Book of Family Skiing, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1967.
The Modern Guide to Skin and Scuba Diving, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1967.
Pro Football's Unforgettable Games, Putnam (New York, NY), 1967.
Touchdown! The Picture History of the American Football League, Putnam (New York, NY), 1967.
The Boom in Going Bust: The Threat of a National Scandal in Consumer Bankruptcy, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1968.
The Complete Book of Family Bowling, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1968.
Face-Off: A Guide to Modern Ice Hockey, Van Nostrand (Princeton, NJ), 1968.
Guide to Badminton, introduction by Waldo W. Lyon, Fleet (New York, NY), 1968.
The New World of Construction Engineering, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1968.
Pass to Win: Pro Football Greats, illustrated by Pers Crowell, Garrard (Champaign, IL), 1968.
Pro Football's All-Time Greats: The Immortals in Pro Football's Hall of Fame, Putnam (New York, NY), 1968.
Seven Modern Wonders of the World, Putnam (New York, NY), 1968.
(With George L. Seewagen) Tennis, Follett (Chicago IL), 1968.
Better Horseback Riding for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1969.
The Complete Book of Skin and Scuba Diving, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1969.
Hockey Heroes: The Game's Greatest Players, illustrated by Dom Lupo, Garrard (Champaign, IL), 1969.
(With Earl Morrall) In the Pocket: My Life As a Quarterback, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1969.
More How Do They Make It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1969.
The New World of Communications, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1969.
Plants to Grow Indoors, illustrated by Bill Barss, Follett (Chicago IL), 1969.
They Flew Alone, illustrated by Serge Hollerback, Warne (New York, NY), 1969.
(With John Fanning) Work When You Want to Work: The Complete Guide for the Temporary Worker—From the President of Uniforce, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1969, revised edition, 1985.
Bart Starr, the Cool Quarterback, Putnam (New York, NY), 1970.
Better Archery for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1970.
The Dollar Squeeze and How to Beat It, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1970.
Knute Rockne: Notre Dame's Football Great, illustrated by Dom Lupo, Garrard (Champaign, IL), 1970.
This Is Pro Football, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1970, revised edition, 1975.
Trees, illustrated by Norman Adams, Follett (Chicago IL), 1970.
(With Earl Morrall) Comeback Quarterback: The Earl Morrall Story, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1971.
The Complete Book of Autograph Collecting, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1971.
The Gamemakers: Pro Football's Great Quarterbacks—From Baugh to Namath, Putnam (New York, NY), 1971.
Jim Thorpe, All-Around Athlete, illustrated by Herman B. Vestal, Garrard (Champaign, IL), 1971.
How Do They Run It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1971.
(With Edward J. Zegarowicz) Inflation-Proof Your Future, Walker (New York, NY), 1971.
Pro Football Plays in Pictures, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1971.
Rise of the Robots, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1971.
(With George Kirby) Soccer, Follett (Chicago IL), 1971.
(With Harry Kramp) Swimming, Follett (Chicago IL), 1971.
Tom Seaver of the Mets, Putnam (New York, NY), 1971.
Understanding Architecture, Warne (New York, NY), 1971.
The Backpacker's Handbook, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1972.
Better Table Tennis for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1972.
By Chance a Winner: The History of Lotteries, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1972.
Football, Follett (Chicago IL), 1972.
The Great Running Backs, Putnam (New York, NY), 1972.
How Do They Build It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1972.
Pitchers and Pitching, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1972.
Pro Football's Great Upsets, Garrard (Champaign, IL), 1972.
Pro Football's Passing Game, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1972.
Understanding Photography, Warne (New York, NY), 1972.
Do-It-Yourself Moving, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1973.
How Does It Get There?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1973.
Pro Football's Kicking Game, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1973.
Sports for Your Child, Winchester Press (Tulsa, OK), 1973.
Willie Mays, illustrated by David Brown, Putnam (New York, NY), 1973.
Baseball's Art of Hitting, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1974.
Better Bicycling for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1974, revised edition, 1984.
Linebacker!, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1974.
Queens of the Court, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1974.
Roger Staubach: A Special Kind of Quarterback, Putnam (New York, NY), 1974.
Better Softball for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1974.
Hank Aaron, illustrated by George Young, Putnam (New York, NY), 1975.
How Do They Find It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1975.
Larry Csonka, Power and Pride, Putnam (New York, NY), 1975.
The Modern Treasure Finder's Manual, Chilton (Radnor, PA), 1975.
Paddle: The Beginner's Guide to Platform Tennis, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1975.
Pro Football A to Z: A Fully Illustrated Guide to America's Favorite Sport, Scribner (New York, NY), 1975.
Winning Plays in Pro Football, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1975.
Additives in Your Food, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1976.
Better Ice Skating for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1976.
Bobby Bonds, Rising Superstar, Putnam (New York, NY), 1976.
The Catcher, Baseball's Man in Charge, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1976.
How Do They Package It?, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1976.
On the Run, Franco Harris, Children's Press (Chicago, IL), 1976.
Pro Football and the Running Back, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1976.
This Is Pro Hockey, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1976.
Understanding Hydroponics: Growing Plants without Soil, Warne (New York, NY), 1976.
Winning Basketball, McKay (New York, NY), 1976.
Bert Jones: Born to Play Football, Putnam (New York, NY), 1977.
Better Gymnastics for Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1977.
Dave Cowens: A Biography, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1977.
Home Run!, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1977.
Making Money in Autographs, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1977.
The Picture Story of Catfish Hunter, Messner (New York, NY), 1977.
The Picture Story of Nadia Comaneci, Messner (New York, NY), 1977.
The Picture Story of Reggie Jackson, Messner (New York, NY), 1977.
This Is Pro Basketball, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1977.
Better Basketball for Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1977.
Amazing Sports Facts, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1978.
Better Soccer for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1978.
Sports Superstitions, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1978.
Supertanker! The Story of the World's Biggest Ships, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1978.
Wind Power for Your Home: The First Complete Guide That Tells How to Make the Wind's Energy Work for You, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1978.
Wood-Burning Stoves, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1978.
Better Volleyball for Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1979.
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Pool and Other Billiard Games, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1979.
The Complete Sports Dictionary, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1979, revised edition, 1993.
Modern Olympic Superstars, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1979.
This Is Pro Soccer, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1979.
The All-Sports Puzzle and Quiz Book, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1980.
Better Basketball for Boys, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1980.
Better Football for Boys, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1980.
Better Roller Skating for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1980.
Charms and Spells, Witches, and Demons, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1980.
Cross-Country Skiing: A Complete Beginner's Book, Messner (New York, NY), 1980.
Discover Archaeology: An Introduction to the Tools and Techniques of Archaeological Fieldwork, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1980.
(With Gary Player) Gary Player's Golf Book For Young People, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1980.
Marathon—The Longest Race, Westminster (Philadelphia, PA), 1980.
Run, Run Fast!, illustrated by Don Madden, Crowell (New York, NY), 1980.
The Supercarriers, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1980.
Track and Field: Secrets of the Champions, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1980.
Better Baseball for Boys, revised edition, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1981.
Better Field Hockey for Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1981.
Better Track for Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1981.
The Gold Hunter's Handbook, Stein & Day (New York, NY), 1981.
Sadat: The Man Who Changed Mid-East History, Walker (New York, NY), 1981.
Superstars of Women's Track, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1981.
The Art of Base-Stealing, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1981.
Better Field Events for Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1982.
Famous Firsts, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1982.
Great Impostors, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1982.
Inside Nuclear Submarines, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1982.
Picture Story of George Brett, Messner (New York, NY), 1982.
Quarterback, illustrated by Don Madden, Crowell (New York, NY), 1982.
Better Cross-Country Running for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1983.
The Complete Book of Baseball Collectibles, Arco (New York, NY), 1983.
The Complete Car Book, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1983.
Computer Puzzles and Quizzes, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1983.
Great Sports Hoaxes, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1983.
Return of the Battleship, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1983.
Screen Play: The Story of Video Games, Warne (New York, NY), 1983.
Strange but True Stories of World War II, Walker (New York, NY), 1983, revised edition, 1991.
(With Tim Sullivan) Stunt People, Beaufort Books (New York, NY), 1983.
Video Games, Puzzles, and Quizzes, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1983.
Baseball's Wacky Players, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1984.
Better Weight Training for Boys, photographs by Ann Hagen Griffiths, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1984.
Better BMX Riding and Racing for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1984.
Computer Kids, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1984.
Mr. President: A Book of U.S. Presidents, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1984, revised edition, 1993.
Pope John Paul II: The People's Pope, Walker (New York, NY), 1984.
Famous Air Force Bombers, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1985.
Famous Air Force Fighters, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1985.
Mary Lou Retton: A Biography, Wanderer Books (New York, NY), 1985.
Ronald Reagan, Messner (New York, NY), 1985.
Baseball Backstage, Holt (New York, NY), 1986.
Better Wrestling for Boys, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1986.
Famous Navy Attack Planes, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1986.
Famous Navy Fighter Planes, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1986.
Pitcher, illustrated by Don Madden, Crowell (New York, NY), 1986.
The Thunderbirds, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1986.
All about Football, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1987.
Better Tennis for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1987.
Facts and Fun about the Presidents, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987, revised edition, 1993.
Famous U.S. Spy Planes, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1987.
Great Racing Cars, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1987.
Treasure Hunt: The Sixteen-Year Search for the Lost Treasure Ship "Atocha," Holt (New York, NY), 1987.
Work Smart, Not Hard, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1987.
All about Baseball, Putnam (New York, NY), 1988.
Center, illustrations by Don Madden, Crowell (New York, NY), 1988.
Famous Blimps and Airships, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1988.
Great Escapes of World War II, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1988.
Great Lives: Sports, Scribner (New York, NY), 1988.
Mikhail Gorbachev, Messner (New York, NY), 1988, revised edition, 1990.
Big League Spring Training, Holt (New York, NY), 1989.
Cars, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1989.
George Bush, Messner (New York, NY), 1989.
Here Come the Monster Trucks, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1989.
How the White House Really Works, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1989.
Any Number Can Play, illustrated by John Caldwell, Crowell (New York, NY), 1990, reprinted as Any Number Can Play: The Numbers Athletes Wear, with illustrations by Anne Canevari Green, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 2000.
Baseball Kids, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1990.
The Day We Walked on the Moon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1990.
Football Kids, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1990.
All about Basketball, Putnam (New York, NY), 1990.
Campaigns and Elections, Silver Burdett (Morristown, NJ), 1991.
Choosing the Candidates, Silver Burdett (Morristown, NJ), 1991.
The Day They Bombed Pearl Harbor, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991.
Sluggers!: Twenty-seven of Baseball's Greatest, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1991.
Disaster! The Destruction of Our Planet, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.
Modern Bombers and Attack Planes, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1992.
Racing Indy Cars, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1992.
Unsolved Famous Real-Life Mysteries, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.
How an Airport Really Works, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1993.
Blading for Beginners: A Compete Guide to In-Line Skating, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1993.
Modern Combat Helicopters, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1993.
The Official Price Guide to American Stoneware, Random House (New York, NY), 1993.
They Shot the President: Ten True Stories, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.
The Day Women Got the Vote: A Photo History of the Women's Rights Movement, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.
Mathew Brady: His Life and Photographs, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1994.
Slave Ship: The Story of the Henrietta Marie, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1994.
Great Impostors, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.
Unsolved II: More Famous Real-Life Mysteries, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.
Elite Warriors: The Special Forces of the United States and Its Allies, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1995.
Presidents at Play, Walker & Co. (New York, NY), 1995.
Glovemen: Twenty-seven of Baseball's Greatest, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1996.
Women War Spies, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.
Alamo!, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.
Black Artists in Photography, 1840-1940, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1996.
(With John Powers) The Yankees: An Illustrated History, Temple University Press (Philadelphia, PA), 1997.
Not Guilty: Six Times when Justice Failed, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.
Snowboarding: A Complete Guide for Beginners, Cobblehill Books (New York, NY), 1997.
The Yankees Fan's Little Book of Wisdom: 101 Truths Learned the Hard Way, Diamond Communications (South Bend, IN), 1998.
Trapped, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
All about Hockey, Putnam (New York, NY), 1998.
Burnin' Rubber: Behind the Scenes in Stock Car Racing, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 1998.
Portraits of War: Civil War Photographers and Their Work, Twenty-First Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 1998.
Quarterbacks!: Eighteen of Football's Greatest, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1998.
100 Years in Photographs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.
Lewis and Clark, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.
Paul Revere, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.
To the Bottom of the Sea: The Exploration of Exotic Life, the "Titanic," and Other Secrets of the Oceans, Twenty-First Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 1999.
Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs That Popularized the President, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2000.
Helen Keller, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.
Abraham Lincoln, Scholastic Reference (New York, NY), 2000.
Don't Step on the Foul Line: Sports Superstitions, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 2000.
All about Soccer, Putnam (New York, NY), 2001.
The Civil War at Sea, Twenty-First Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2001.
Power Football: The Greatest Running Backs, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2001.
Davy Crockett, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.
Harriet Tubman, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.
Pocahontas, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.
The Wright Brothers, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.
Thomas Edison, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.
Baseball's Boneheads, Bad Boys, and Just Plain Crazy Guys, illustrated by Anne Canevari Green, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 2003.
Journalists at Risk: Reporting America's Wars, Twenty-First Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2004.
In the Wake of Battle: The Civil War Images of Matthew Brady, Prestel (New York, NY), 2004.
editor
Dick Weber, The Champion's Guide to Bowling, Fleet (New York, NY), 1964.
Luther Lassiter, The Modern Guide to Pocket Billiards, Fleet (New York, NY), 1964.
Bowling Secrets of the Pros, illustrated by Dom Lupo, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1968.
Charles Fellows, Baseball Rules Illustrated, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1981.
Charles Fellows, Football Rules Illustrated, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1981.
Charles Fellows, Soccer Rules Illustrated, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1981.
Charles Fellows, Tennis Rules Illustrated, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1981.
Lawrence P. Konopka, Racquetball Rules and Techniques Illustrated, illustrated by Konopka and Madelon Skoogfors, Cornerstone Library (New York, NY), 1982.
WORK IN PROGRESS: Built to Last, for Scholastic (New York, NY), publication expected in 2006.
SIDELIGHTS: In a career spanning more than four decades, George Sullivan has written over 200 adult and juvenile nonfiction books on a wide array of topics. Sullivan has been fortunate to be able to follow his natural curiosity wherever it has led. From the excitement and challenge of the sports arena to the high-powered plays of politics, from fascinating true-life stories hidden in the web of history to the technological breakthroughs that are changing the future, Sullivan's many books continue to open the minds and fire the imaginations of thousands of young readers.
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and raised in Springfield, Sullivan worked as a journalist for the Navy prior to going to college. Writing every day, beginning at four or five o'clock in the morning, for at least four or five hours, Sullivan has maintained the disciplined habits he developed in the Navy. In addition to writing his books, he often illustrates them as well, using his skills as an amateur photographer. Because many of Sullivan's books concern sports—professional football in particular—he once spent most of his fall and winter weekends taking football action photos, both at practice sessions and at games. "In the summer, I do the same with baseball," he once told CA, "but it's mostly to keep me proficient with my cameras until fall and football arrive."
Football has indeed been a favorite subject for Sullivan. From fact-filled histories that include Pro Football's All-Time Greats and Touchdown! The Picture History of the American Football League, to instructional books such as Pro Football's Passing Game, he has shared his enthusiasm for the game with his readers. Sullivan also covers the world of baseball in The Catcher, Baseball's Man in Charge. All about Baseball and Baseball Backstage provide overviews of the game, while beginning players can hone their skills and understanding of the game with Baseball Rules Illustrated and Better Softball for Boys and Girls. Sullivan trades his bat for a racquet in Better Tennis for Boys and Girls, in which he provides beginners with encouragement: "Learning to play tennis is something like learning to swim or bake a cake. Just about anyone can do it with the right instruction and determination to practice."
In Snowboarding: A Complete Guide for Beginners, Sullivan turns his attention to this alternative sport. Describing the history, equipment, and basic techniques, the author presents "solid" information accompanied by full-color photos, according to Tom S. Hurlburt in School Library Journal. Hurlburt went on to call Snowboarding "an easy-to-read, eye-pleasing book." NASCAR takes the spotlight in the 1998 Burnin' Rubber: Behind the Scenes in Stock Car Racing. Sullivan traces the sport from its beginnings in the 1930s, introducing young readers "to the astonishing range of material, manpower, and money" needed to put a racing car on the track, as Patricia Manning noted in a School Library Journal review. Ice sports get the Sullivan treatment in All about Hockey, featuring the author's "efficient, workmanlike prose," according to Richard Luzer in School Library Journal. In Quarterbacks!: Eighteen of Football's Greatest, Sullivan looks again at one of his favorite team sports in an "excellent introduction" to the game's key player, as Kate Kohlbeck noted in School Library Journal. Sullivan provides biographical details about players both historical and contemporary, including Sammy Baugh, Sid Luckman, Troy Aikman, and Brett Favre. Backs get the same treatment in Power Football: The Greatest Running Backs, a book characterized by "lively writing," according to Michael McCullough in School Library Journal. Here Sullivan provides brief profiles of running backs from Eric Dickerson to Emmitt Smith.
In Don't Step on the Foul Line: Sports Superstitions and Any Number Can Play: The Numbers Athletes Wear, Sullivan focuses on some unusual aspects of sports. In Don't Step on the Foul Line, he looks at strange rituals and beliefs athletes indulge in, from lucky socks to favorite pregame foods. Similar anecdotes sprinkle the pages of Any Number Can Play, in which Sullivan tells the stories and history of numbers that athletes wear. Chris Crowe, writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, praised the "wealth of minutia sure to engage any sports fan" that appears in both titles. Booklist's Denia Hester similarly wrote, "Here are a couple of sure bets for trivia nuts, or anyone who wants a good chuckle." School Library Journal's Steve Clancy also commended the books for being "well researched and loaded with detail." A similar title, the 2003 Baseball's Boneheads, Bad Boys, and Just Plain Crazy Guys, takes a look at baseball players famous for their humor, superstitions, and odd behavior. A Booklist reviewer praised these "funny, offbeat, true stories," including the one about a New York Mets pitcher who had a fixation on the number nine.
In addition to sports, Sullivan has written about the game of politics, presenting both the complexities of the political process and the major players in a way that make them both interesting and accessible for young students of government. Choosing the Candidates and Campaigns and Elections describe the history of our electoral system and discuss some of the latest issues, including the debate over the role of television within the election process. Profiles of influential twentieth-century political figures are presented in Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Sadat: The Man Who Changed Mid-East History, and Mikhail Gorbachev, the latter a profile of the leader of the former U.S.S.R. set within his rise to power in the Communist party. How the White House Really Works—which President Clinton is reported to have read as entertainment during the last days before the 1992 elections—is a behind-the-scenes look at the building that not only houses the president and his family, but also serves as an office for both president and staff, a museum, and a tourist attraction as well. On the lighter side, Sullivan illuminates the personalities of several U.S. leaders in Presidents at Play by revealing how each of them chose to spend their time away from the stresses of political office.
Sullivan's years of Navy service have provided him with both an interest and insight into U.S. military history; from the high-flying exploits of the Thunderbirds to the pivotal Civil War battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac, he shares his enthusiasm for military history in several volumes. In Famous Blimps and Airships, he provides an in-depth survey of twenty different airships, from the German Zeppelin LZ-1 first manufactured in 1900, to the "Spirit of Akron," the Goodyear superblimp that took quietly to the airways in 1988. On a faster track, Famous U.S. Spy Planes follows the attempt to infiltrate enemy airspace to gain top-secret information by taking to the skies in such "birds" as the Curtiss JN and Lockheed's SR-71 "Blackbird."
Further forays into military history include the 2001 title The Civil War at Sea, an album of archival photos of some of the ships that fought in that war, accompanied by "an engrossing account of the war's progress" on water, as a critic for Kirkus Reviews noted. Sullivan describes how the North's superior sea power allowed it to close off Southern ports despite the hard-fought efforts of the Confederates. Booklist's Carolyn Phelan found the book to be a "clearly written account [that] broadens students' knowledge." Similarly, School Library Journal's Elizabeth M. Reardon felt the same book would "appeal to every Civil War buff" with its illustrations and "lively text."
Introducing children to both the past and the future is crucial, and Sullivan has directed many of his books to accomplishing just that. In his "How Do They" series, he covers the stages of manufacturing: locating resources; constructing power stations, bridges, skyscrapers, and highways; packaging goods; and transporting everything from zoo reptiles to launch-bound rocket ships. Understanding Hydroponics: Growing Plants without Soil examines the futuristic technology of increasing the earth's agricultural production and offsetting future food shortages.
While hydroponics may be the agriculture of the future, the agriculture of the distant past is revealed through archeology, as Sullivan notes in his Discover Archaeology: An Introduction to the Tools and Techniques of Archaeologic Fieldwork. The exploration of a sunken ship provides the excitement in Treasure Hunt: The Sixteen-Year Search for the Lost Treasure Ship "Atocha," a true story about the work of marine archaeologists, historians, and divers to recover a sunken galleon off the Florida Keys. And in Mathew Brady: His Life and Photographs, Sullivan combines technology and history in a discussion of the famous photographer's decision to document the Civil War with his camera during an era when advances in photographic technology were occurring at a rapid rate. Other historic events covered by Sullivan range from the slave trade to man's first walk on the moon, the women's movement, and the beginning of U.S. involvement in World War II.
History of a different sort is served up in other books from Sullivan. In Black Artists in Photography, 1840-1940, he explores the life and works of eight little-known African-American pioneers in photography. "Each of the men Sullivan has profiled played a significant part in advancing photography as a force in American culture," wrote Jabarl Asim in a Washington Post Book World review. Asim went on to conclude that Sullivan's book was "an excellent beginning" to a full documentation of the black achievement in photographic arts. Sullivan also looks at the frailties of the judicial system in Not Guilty: Six Times when Justice Failed. Sullivan examines miscarriages of justice ranging from a teen wrongly convicted of killing his mother to the case of a Native American activist, Leonard Peltier, and a union activist, Joe Hill. Barbara Schepp, writing in Kliatt, found the book "simplistic," yet "a worthwhile examination of something that is often swept under the rug: justice denied." Writing in Canadian Materials, Ian Stewart remarked that Sullivan relates "the sad and tragic stories of what happens when police, the courts, media, and volatile public opinion disregard [the] fundamental premise" that a person is innocent until proven guilty. In Trapped, Sullivan tells six real tales of "courage and survival," as Sister Bernadette Marie Ondus noted in Kliatt. These deal with a toddler who fell down a Texas well, kindergarten students caught in World Trade Center elevators during a bombing, and other stories of true heroism and resilience in the face of desperate situations.
Sullivan has also produced numerous biographies that highlight the lives and times of some prominent Americans; many of these books are easy readers. His Lewis and Clark follows that expedition westward to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1800s. School Library Journal contributor Nancy Collins-Warner felt that Sullivan provides "the drama of history well told" in this book. President Abraham Lincoln is featured in other books from Sullivan. In Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs That Popularized the President, Sullivan produces "a curious mix of biography, media literacy, and the history of photography," according to Booklist's Randy Meyer. Sullivan chooses five often-used pictures of the president and demonstrates how these were employed to project an image of Lincoln both in life and in death. Betty Carter, writing in Horn Book Guide, found this book a "fascinating historical footnote," while Patricia Ann Owens of School Library Journal dubbed it a "unique and sharply focused volume."
Sullivan again deals with the same president in Abraham Lincoln for the Scholastic series "In Their Own Words." Helen Keller was also written for that series. Both books contain primary and secondary sources. As Catherine Andronik commented in Booklist about both titles, "Sullivan seamlessly interweaves information about his subjects with excerpts from primary sources." In Keller's case, this primary source is her autobiography; in Lincoln's case, Sullivan drew from speeches and letters. Todd Morning, reviewing both titles in School Library Journal, called these works "well written, fast moving, and highly readable." Both books, according to Horn Book Guide reviewer Cyrisse Jaffee, "read smoothly and will be accessible" for children. In Harriet Tubman, Sullivan features the life of the woman who was born a slave and became the leader of the Underground Railroad, seeing other slaves to safety in the North. Pocahontas likewise details the life of that Native-American woman who helped John Smith and the settlers at Jamestown. According to Shauna Yusko, writing in School Library Journal, "Both titles are highly readable and well organized." In time for the 2003 Wright Centennial was The Wright Brothers, a biography of those pioneers in flight. Harriet Fargnoli of School Library Journal found this book "a good choice for reports."
"I'm always being asked where I get the ideas for my books," Sullivan once revealed. "That's never been a problem for me. The ideas spring from my curiosity about people, places, and events. How the White House Really Works is a signature book of mine. What I tried to do in this and many of my other books is to convey to young readers the exciting facts and information brought to light by my inquiring mind." Although he has written several books for adults, Sullivan prefers to illuminate young minds. "Adult books … are a nice change of pace for me," he told Chuck Lawliss in Publishers Weekly, "but if I had to pick one or the other I'd stick to young adult books. I don't enjoy going into a subject too exhaustively. The text length of young adult books—10,000 words for a sports instructional book, 25,000 or a bit more for general books—suits my temperament."
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:
books
Sullivan, George, Better Tennis for Boys and Girls, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1987.
periodicals
Aethlon: The Journal of Sport Literature, fall, 1999, S. Michael Dewey, review of The Yankees: An Illustrated History, pp. 180-181.
Booklist, July, 1992, p. 1934; November 15, 1998, Randy Meyer, review of Portraits of War, p. 579; March 1, 1999, Carolyn Phelan, review of All about Hockey, p. 1211; October 1, 1999, John Peters, review of To the Bottom of the Sea, p. 356; December 15, 2000, Denia Hester, review of Don't Step on the Foul Line: Sports Superstitions and Any Number Can Play: The Numbers Athletes Wear, p. 818; February 1, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Civil War at Sea, p. 1052; February 1, 2001, Randy Meyer, review of Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs That Popularized the President, p. 1048; April 1, 2001, Catherine Andronik, review of Abraham Lincoln and Helen Keller, p. 1463; June 1, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of All about Soccer, p. 1876; July, 2003, Ed Sullivan, review of Baseball's Boneheads, Bad Boys, and Just Plain Crazy Guys, p. 1888.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May, 1973, p. 146; October, 1975, p. 35; July-August, 1986, p. 218; December, 1987, p. 78; September, 1997, Elizabeth Bush, review of Alamo!, p. 25.
Canadian Materials, October 15, 1999, Ian Stewart, review of Not Guilty: Six Times when Justice Failed.
Choice, February, 1998, R. Browning, review of The Yankees, p. 1030.
Horn Book, March, 2001, review of Picturing Lincoln, p. 234.
Horn Book Guide, spring, 1997, Peter D. Sieruta, review of Black Artists in Photography, 1840-1940, p. 139; spring, 1999, Jack Forman, review of Burnin' Rubber: Behind the Scenes in Stock Car Racing and All about Hockey, p. 126; spring, 1999, Carrie Harasimowicz, review of Quarterbacks!: Eighteen of Football's Greatest, p. 126; spring, 1999, Tanya Auger, review of Portraits of War, p. 154; spring, 2001, Carrie Harasimowicz, review of Don't Step on the Foul Line and Any Number Can Play, p. 138; fall, 2001, Tanya Auger, review of All about Soccer, p. 339; fall, 2001, Cyrisse Jaffee, review of Abraham Lincoln and Helen Keller, p. 417; fall, 2001, Jack Forman, review of The Civil War at Sea, p. 438; fall, 2001, Betty Carter, review of Picturing Lincoln, p. 438; spring, 2002, Carolyn Shute, review of Power Football: The Greatest Running Backs, p. 169; fall, 2002, review of Harriet Tubman and Pocahontas, p. 469.
Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2001, review of The Civil War at Sea, p. 189; January 15, 2002, review of Helen Keller, p. 110.
Kliatt, May, 1998, Barbara Schepp, review of Not Guilty, p. 31; September, 1998, Sister Bernadette Marie Ondus, review of Trapped, p. 38; March, 1999, Deane A. Beverly, review of 100 Years in Photographs, p. 38.
New York Times Book Review, November 23, 1971; February 19, 1978, p. 36; June 11, 1978, p. 30; November 13, 1983, p. 48; May 10, 1987.
Publishers Weekly, January 1, 1982, Chuck Lawliss, interview with Sullivan, pp. 10-11; January 11, 1999, review of 100 Years in Photographs, p. 74.
Reading Teacher, October, 1998, review of Snowboarding: A Complete Guide for Beginners, p. 160.
School Library Journal, February, 1976, p. 49; August, 1987, p. 88; November, 1989, p. 133; February, 1991, p. 92; January, 1992, pp. 133-134; March, 1997, Tom S. Hurlburt, review of Snowboarding, p. 209; September, 1998, Kate Kohlbeck, review of Quarterbacks!, p. 227; January, 1999, Patricia Manning, review of Burnin' Rubber, p. 155; March, 1999, Richard Luzer, review of All about Hockey, p. 228; January, 2001, Nancy Collins-Warner, review of Lewis and Clark, p. 156; February, 2001, Steve Clancy, review of Don't Step on the Foul Line and Any Number Can Play, p. 140; March, 2001, Patricia Ann Owens, review of Picturing Lincoln, p. 279; March, 2001, Elizabeth M. Reardon, review of The Civil War at Sea, p. 279; April, 2001, Todd Morning, review of Abraham Lincoln and Helen Keller, pp. 169-170; May, 2001, Blair Christolon, review of All about Soccer, p. 171; November, 2001, Michael McCullough, review of Power Football, p. 186; November, 2002, Shauna Yusko, review of Harriet Tubman and Pocahontas, p. 192; July, 2003, Harriet Fargnoli, review of The Wright Brothers, p. 150; November, 2003, Julie Webb, review of Baseball's Boneheads, Bad Boys, and Just Plain Crazy Guys, p. 168.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 1981, p. 41; June, 1992, p. 133; February, 2001, Chris Crowe, review of Don't Step on the Foul Line and Any Number Can Play, p. 448.
Washington Post Book World, August 14, 1983, p. 13; May 11, 1986, p. 21; March 6, 1994, p. 11; April 6, 1997, Jabarl Asim, review of Black Artists in Photography, 1840-1940, p. 8.
online
Scholastic Web site, http://www2.scholastic.com/ (October 1, 2003).