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Learn about the amazing life of three-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner–and how she persisted. Considered the fastest woman of all time, Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, set two world records in 1988 that still stand today. But getting there wasn’t easy, and Flo Jo had to overcome many challenges along the way.
She Persisted: Florence Griffith Joyner
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Simone Biles has been called the greatest gymnast of all time, winning five Olympic and 25 World Champion medals by age 22. Before she wowed the world with her incredible gymnastics skills, Simone was an energetic young girl who dreamed of becoming a top gymnast. She trained for hours every day and made many sacrifices to pursue her goals. Explore how Simone Biles went from being a kid growing up in Texas to an Olympic athlete who has won more gymnastics medals than anyone in history.
The Story of Simone Biles
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Lucile “Ludy” Godbold was six feet tall and skinnier than a Carolina pine and an exceptional athlete. In her final year on the track team at Winthrop College in South Carolina, Ludy tried the shot put and she made that iron ball sail with her long, skinny arms. But when Ludy qualified for the first Women’s Olympics in 1922, Ludy had no money to go. Thanks to the help of her college and classmates, Ludy traveled to Paris and won the gold medal with more than a foot to spare.
Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women’s Olympics
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Olympian Willye B. White was born in 1939 in Money, Mississippi, abandoned by both her parents, and worked alongside her grandparents in the cotton fields. Willye had big dreams, though. So when her cousin noticed she was the fastest runner around, Willye jumped at the chance to put on her traveling shoes and run her way to better opportunities, first with the Tennessee State Tigerbelles and then with the US Olympic team. Willye had to remind herself, “I believe in me,” whether she was running and jumping or witnessing the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement.
Traveling Shoes: The Story of Willye White, U.S. Olympian and Long Jump Champion
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Growing up in Damascus, the pool was Yusra Mardini’s happy place. She learned to swim before she could walk. And with swimming came a dream ― to compete in the Olympic games. But when war came to Syria, Yusra’s home ― and her pool ― were no longer safe. Yusra and her sister set out on a harrowing journey, crossing the sea in search of safety. Crammed on a too-small refugee boat, disaster strikes when the boat’s motor breaks. Scared but determined, Yusra plunges into the water and starts swimming.
Swimming Toward a Dream: Yusra Mardini’s Incredible Journey from Refugee to Olympic Swimmer
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Teen skateboarding phenom Sky Brown knows how to go big. After becoming a professional athlete at age 10, she became the first woman to land a frontside 540 at the X Games and won an Olympic medal at age 13. Young readers will eagerly follow Sky’s story as she recounts how she got started in the sport and what it feels like to compete. Then they’ll find their own skateboarding magic as she shows basic skills like choosing a stance, stopping, and dropping in.
The Life-Changing Magic of Skateboarding: A Beginner’s Guide with Olympic Medalist Sky Brown
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Despite being named after a famous ballerina, little Mia Hamm never cared for pirouettes. Instead, she chased the ball: baseball, basketball, and especially soccer. Since she was often the only girl on her sports teams, she had a hard time making friends. But when fifteen-year-old Mia made the U.S. women’s national soccer team, everything changed. All around her, young women tackled and dribbled, passed and kicked, scored, and screamed. They were just like her ― but even more skilled. She was determined not to let her team down.
Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History
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Explore elite wheelchair racer, wrestler, America’s Got Talent contestant, and Netflix documentary star Zion Clark’s journey from a childhood lost in the foster care system to his hard-fought rise as a high school wrestler to his current rigorous training to prepare as an elite athlete on the world stage.
Zion Unmatched
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Everything seemed set against Chaunté Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Chaunté worked hard — both in the classroom and out on the sports field — and through her own fierce determination and grit, she overcame every imaginable obstacle, eventually propelling herself to the place she always dreamed about: the Olympic medal podium.
Boundless
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Dedicating his life to helping patients labeled “incurables,” Ludwig Guttmann fought for the rights of paraplegics to live a full life. The young doctor believed — and eventually proved — that physical movement is key to healing, a discovery that led him to create the first Paralympic Games.
A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games
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A picture book biography of world-famous artist David Hockney that celebrates seeing beauty everywhere. “It’s the very process of looking at something that makes it beautiful.” Growing up under the gray skies of England during World War II, David Hockney used art to brighten his world. He discovered that the more he looked and drew, the more he could see beneath the surface to find beauty, possibility, and new perspectives. In the most ordinary things, whether a splash of water, a changing landscape, or the face of a friend, David always found something to love, uniquely capturing the vibrancy and life of his subjects.
To See Clearly: A Portrait of David Hockney
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An picture book biography about Glenn Burke, the first Major League Baseball player to come out as gay, and the story of how he created the world’s most recognizable handshake, the high five. Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Glenn Burke could do it all ― hit, throw, run, field. He was the heart of the clubhouse who energized his teammates with his enthusiasm and love for the game. It was that energy that led Glenn to invent the high five one October day back in 1977 ― a spontaneous gesture after a home run that has since evolved into our universal celebratory greeting. But despite creating this joyful symbol, Glenn Burke, a gay Black man, wasn’t always given support and shown acceptance in return
Glenn Burke, Game Changer: The Man Who Invented the High Five
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When Žana and Vedrana come for the summer, 11-year-old Amra begins to heal after her brother’s death. For three summers the girls enjoy dancing, clothing, even boys. But the shadow of ethnic war looms. The author’s story continues in her powerful young adult memoir, The Cat I Never Named (opens in a new window) which delves deeper into the Bosnian War in the 1990s.
Three Summers: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Summer Crushes, and Growing Up on the Eve of War
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For young José growing up in Spain, cooking “wasn’t just” about food, it was about people. Starting small, his work led to his establishing an NGO to help feed those in need. A fluid narration and lush illustrations present this renowned chef. Backmatter concludes this hopeful, brief biography. Also available in Spanish: Un plato de esperanza (opens in a new window).
A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen
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George was four years old when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Now 87 years old, he tells the story of his family and their internment which is also a story of resilience and hope. Black and white photographs and further information complete the evocatively illustrated, touching biography.
My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story
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Rosetta left her family and farm to join the Union Army. She cut her hair, practiced a lower voice, and become Lyons Wakeman. This fascinating examination of life in the 19th century is well-told, incorporating quotes from Rosetta’s letters. Colored scratchboard illustrations evoke the period, enhancing the accessible narrative. Additional information about Rosetta, the war, and a note from the author are included.
Guts for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman
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Meet Coretta Scott King, a woman who continued her husband’s critical work after his death, through her own words gracefully edited for young readers. Stunning mixed-media illustrations complement the thoughtful and touching memoir.
Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King
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Despite a difficult childhood, Prince was a self-taught musician who found a healing power in music. Rhythmic language and purple-hued illustrations introduce Prince and the energy of his music. A family playlist of his music concludes this brief, attractive biography.
Ordinary Days: The Seeds, Sound, and City That Grew Prince Rogers Nelson
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The moving story of the Anishinaabe woman who became louder when water — the source of life — was being ignored, is revealed in lyrical language and bold illustrations. A forward by Autumn Peltier, begins this powerful plea for continued action.
Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior
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When Oprah Winfrey was growing up, her family expected her to become a maid like her grandmother. But she had different dreams. She went after them and turned her dreams into reality, becoming a media superstar and inspiring countless other people along the way. A book in the She Persisted chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds.
She Persisted: Oprah Winfrey
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Jordan is on an 8th grade trip to Paris, an exciting prospect for an aspiring artist like Jordan. But the adventure with his friends takes unexpected, often humorous turns with a new adult chaperone. Jordan’s story which starts in New Kid, continues in Class Act is sure to engage young readers and remind adults of the pitfalls of adolescence.
School Trip
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Dan was an awkward 8th grader who generally stayed quiet and rather unnoticed until an even more awkward school presentation. The boy’s self-confidence gradually grows during a weeks-long study trip to Paris. The graphic format is effective in presenting this often-humorous memoir and his sometimes uncomfortable memories.
A First Time for Everything
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A picture book biography about Evelyn Glennie, a deaf woman, who became the first full-time solo percussionist in the world. From the moment Evelyn Glennie heard her first note, music held her heart. She played the piano by ear at age eight, and the clarinet by age ten. But soon, the nerves in her ears began to deteriorate, and Evelyn was told that, as a deaf girl, she could never be a musician. What sounds Evelyn couldn’thear with her ears, though, she could feel resonate through her body as if she, herself, were a drum. And the music she created was extraordinary. Evelyn Glennie had learned how to listen in a new way.
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion
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When 14-year-old William Kamkwamba’s Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone’s crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library … and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.