Decatur High School graduate and former Todd Beamer boys basketball coach Jarrett Mentink, Ph. D is off and running on a new adventure.
Mentink and his “Kids In the Clouds” publishing company just released a book on Seattle Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr., which is written for children but also contains a good deal of Griffey and Mariners history that older readers would enjoy.
“The Kid Returns” will be the fourth book put out by Mentink, following the initial “Alley the Cat” and two other sports books, “Alexander the Great” about the Seattle Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander and “Ka-Boone” about former Seattle Mariners star second baseman Bret Boone. The Boone book includes what it was like for Bret to be in a third generation Major League Baseball family.
Mentink wrote the book about Griffey, as well as the earlier “Kids in the Clouds” books, while Patrick Carlson of Valdosta, Georgia turned in the full-color illustrations.
One of Mentink’s original reasons for starting “Kids in the Clouds” was to provide reading material for youngsters flying on airplanes, and the books are provided on Horizon Air.
“The Kid Returns” highlights the early years of Griffey’s career, when he was known as “The Kid” due to his arrival in the majors at the age of 19.
It also includes former Cincinnati Reds star Ken Griffey Sr.’s switch to the Seattle Mariners to become a teammate of his son. Highlights include the Griffeys hitting back-to-back home runs in a road game against the Angels in Anaheim – the first father-son combination to ever do so.
“The Kid Returns” goes through other events such as spectacular home runs, and catches against the center field fence, plus the 1995 season when he helped the M’s to their first ever playoff appearance – and on their way to a new stadium.
Safeco Field’s opening in 1999 was included, plus Griffey’s being traded to the Reds after the 1999 season.
Then “The Kid Returns” goes into his return to Seattle this year, including a memorable quote from Griffey about his reasons.
The book’s back cover concludes the project with a drawing by Carlson of Griffey grinning on the bottom of a pile of Mariners as he did in 1995 when Edgar Martinez drove him in all the way from first base with a double into the left-field corner of the Kingdome. The hit won the American League Division Series’ fifth and final game against the New York Yankees.
Many youngsters do not remember a large chunk of Griffey history from his 11-year initial stay, But the book is easy to read and adults who do remember will be able to share the moments with them.
Mentink currently resides on Vashon Island with his wife Angie – a commentator for Fox Sports Northwest.
To find out more about Jarrett Mentink’s work or to bring him to a school for an author visit, contact www.kidsintheclouds.com.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s proceeds from the sale of the book go to benefit the Ken Griffey Jr. Foundation, which supports children’s causes throughout the United States.
The book is being carried by all five Mariners Team Stores.