In this dazzling introduction, an extraordinary woman takes her rightful place back in the spotlight.
Meet pioneering strongwoman Katie Sandwina.
Opening on a daring (but possibly apocryphal) tale of Katie outlifting strongman Eugen Sandow, the narrative quickly immerses readers in this female athlete’s life. Born in 1884 to a performing family in Essen, Germany, Katie staged her “first hefty stunt” at only 2: “a perfect handstand on Papa’s outstretched palm!” She grew into a teenager with “legs as thick as tree trunks.” Katie performed tirelessly until she attained her big break, headlining the Ringling Big Top Circus. Though she wowed audiences with her astounding feats of strength, Conrad passionately emphasizes that she was celebrated for her femininity, too, mothering two sons and wearing “bold costumes” that highlighted her muscles. Lengthy, somewhat sprawling backmatter (including photos, an author’s note, a bibliography, a timeline, and mini-biographies of other strongwomen) helps establish Katie’s enduring legacy. What really steals the show, however, are the striking, old-timey illustrations in a primary color palette with circus-style fonts and framing. Grainy lithograph-inspired images of vintage travel posters, ostentatious newspaper headlines, and bursts of oversize, colorfully garish text create the feeling of spectacle. Images meld perfectly with text, including on a dynamic page showing Katie juggling cannonballs, depicting symbols of her desires for domestic life and showbiz success.
In this dazzling introduction, an extraordinary woman takes her rightful place back in the spotlight. (Picture-book biography. 7-11)Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781662680151
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A solid base hit, with guidance on the great American pastime—and life itself.
Actor Renna, best known for his role in the 1993 film The Sandlot, offers baseball-themed anecdotes and affirmations.
Heartfelt reminders that life’s a marathon, not a sprint, may be familiar, but many young readers will find them revelatory. The author also stresses that failure is just as much a part of life as success, encourages children to embrace individuality and work hard despite being the underdog, and emphasizes that practice shows commitment and “prepares you for the big game or the test.” All these lessons will be relatable to young people, and many are supported by real-life stories: basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s short-lived stint in minor league baseball, an unexpected victory during Game One of the 2015 World Series, and Renna’s willingness to swallow his fear when, as a young teen, he was handed a new script just an hour before shooting a pivotal scene in The Sandlot. Each tidbit stands alone, but taken together, all 20 tenets provide a lively road map to life. The colorful spot art features images of diverse young baseball players, plus some visually appealing double-page spreads filled with movement and action. White space is used thoughtfully, allowing readers to reflect on how these words of wisdom might apply to them.
A solid base hit, with guidance on the great American pastime—and life itself. (Informational picture book. 7-11)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593754870
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
A pivotal moment in a child’s life, at once stirring and authentically personal.
Before growing up to become a major figure in the civil rights movement, a boy finds a role model.
Buffing up a childhood tale told by her renowned father, Young Shelton describes how young Andrew saw scary men marching in his New Orleans neighborhood (“It sounded like they were yelling ‘Hi, Hitler!’ ”). In response to his questions, his father took him to see a newsreel of Jesse Owens (“a runner who looked like me”) triumphing in the 1936 Olympics. “Racism is a sickness,” his father tells him. “We’ve got to help folks like that.” How? “Well, you can start by just being the best person you can be,” his father replies. “It’s what you do that counts.” In James’ hazy chalk pastels, Andrew joins racially diverse playmates (including a White child with an Irish accent proudly displaying the nickel he got from his aunt as a bribe to stop playing with “those Colored boys”) in tag and other games, playing catch with his dad, sitting in the midst of a cheering crowd in the local theater’s segregated balcony, and finally visualizing himself pelting down a track alongside his new hero—“head up, back straight, eyes focused,” as a thematically repeated line has it, on the finish line. An afterword by Young Shelton explains that she retold this story, told to her many times growing up, drawing from conversations with Young and from her own research; family photos are also included. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A pivotal moment in a child’s life, at once stirring and authentically personal. (illustrator’s note) (Autobiographical picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-545-55465-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
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