Celebrate the upcoming Olympic Games and the recent addition of breaking as an Olympic sport with books that highlight a diverse cast of athletes and trailblazers!
By Linda J. Acevedo
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
⭐”Morrison’s hazy, graffiti-flavored artwork is spellbinding, with bodies etched in movement that leaps off the pages. . . An irresistible beat to get readers on their feet.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Tenacious: Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes
By Patty Cisneros Prevo
Illustrated by Dion MBD
“This is precisely the book I dreamed of growing up as a young girl with a disability. It shows what is possible to achieve.” —Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, Paralympic medalist and disability activist
By Jessica Mendoza, Alana Mendoza Dusan
Illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw
“The sibling authors know well of what they write: Mendoza, a two-time Olympic medalist as a member of the U.S. women’s softball team, is an MLB analyst for ESPN; Dusan played Division 1 softball in college. Their insider knowledge of the sport, team dynamics, and the give-and-take of sisterhood lends the narrative authenticity and candor. . . Multiple recaps of plays and plot will help keep hesitant readers in the game.” —Publishers Weekly
Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku
By Ellie Crowe
Illustrated by Richard Waldrep
⭐ “Well researched and fact-filled, this book will appeal to a wide audience of general readers.” —School Library Journal, starred review
The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku
By Ellie Crowe
Illustrated by Richard Waldrep
“The writing is simple and direct. . . Waldrep’s illustrations add movement and humanity to this loving portrait of a fascinating life. A good fit for confident readers, and for fans of the “Who Was?” series.” —School Library Journal
By Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by S. D. Nelson
“Finished with a career recap, plus a discussion of the long effort to restore Thorpe’s confiscated medals. . . young readers in need of a role model could hardly do better.” —Kirkus Reviews
The Story of All-Star Athlete Jim Thorpe
By Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by S. D. Nelson
The Story of All-Star Athlete Jim Thorpe is a fresh look at a world-renowned champion and allows the reader to meet the person behind the celebrated athlete. This chapter book in our “Story” line includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.
Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
By Paula Yoo
Illustrated by Dom Lee
⭐ “Handsomely illustrated and compassionately written without sentimentality, this picture book biography exemplifies what this genre should be: humanizing and meaningful.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee
By Paula Yoo
Illustrated by Dom Lee
“Olympic Diver Sammy Lee (based on Yoo’s Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, 2005) includes additional sections on Korean immigration to the U.S., Asians in California, and Olympic diving. . . These well-crafted, insightful biographies provide a useful historical context for each person’s story.” —Booklist
Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer
By Bill Wise
Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth
“Balancing close-range portraits of the player and depictions of on-the-diamond action, Farnsworth’s light-infused oil paintings impart the emotional tenor and the triumph of Louis’s early years and regrettably brief major league career.” —Publishers Weekly
By William Miller
Illustrated by Rodney S. Pate
“In this stirring picture book, Joe Louis inspires a young African American boy named Sammy to reach for his dreams… Realistic oil paintings, many covering two pages, carry the story along. A glowing afterword highlights Louis’s career and exemplary character. This offering will have particular appeal to fans of the Brown Bomber, but its upbeat message is universal.” —School Library Journal