Gr 5 UpâÂÂThe Wallaces pair up to tackle a great historical sports figure in this engrossing biography. Mildred Ella "Babe" Didriksen Zaharias may not be as well-known as Babe Ruth, but she broke countless records, leaped over age-old boundaries, and paved the way for professional women athletes across several arenas. A champion basketball player, an Olympic track-and-field star, and career golfer, Babe didn't let obstacles stand in the way of her success. The authors detail her trajectory from the daughter of a Norwegian immigrant born in a working-class Texas neighbourhood to record wins at the 1932 Olympics (still not broken to this day) to her last days as she fought cancer. Chapters are organised around the various hurdles she faced ("Babe vs. The Boys," "Babe vs. Tradition"). Text is broken up by illuminating quotations and dynamic period photos. Ample historical background is interlaced within the narrative, giving context that will help readers understand Didriksen Zaharias's lasting impact. Especially engaging are the anecdotes that illustrate the subject's faults as well as her strengths: Babe's showmanship and drive often alienated her teammates, but her strength and leadership also enabled her to provide for her ailing parents and impoverished siblings. Extensive back matter makes this title perfect for reports, and this exemplar text should be a staple for all collections looking to diversify their biography, sports, and women's history offerings.âÂÂShelley Diaz, School Library Journal
Gr 5 UpâÂÂThe Wallaces pair up to tackle a great historical sports figure in this engrossing biography. Mildred Ella "Babe" Didriksen Zaharias may not be as well-known as Babe Ruth, but she broke countless records, leaped over age-old boundaries, and paved the way for professional women athletes across several arenas. A champion basketball player, an Olympic track-and-field star, and career golfer, Babe didn't let obstacles stand in the way of her success. The authors detail her trajectory from the daughter of a Norwegian immigrant born in a working-class Texas neighbourhood to record wins at the 1932 Olympics (still not broken to this day) to her last days as she fought cancer. Chapters are organised around the various hurdles she faced ("Babe vs. The Boys," "Babe vs. Tradition"). Text is broken up by illuminating quotations and dynamic period photos. Ample historical background is interlaced within the narrative, giving context that will help readers understand Didriksen Zaharias's lasting impact. Especially engaging are the anecdotes that illustrate the subject's faults as well as her strengths: Babe's showmanship and drive often alienated her teammates, but her strength and leadership also enabled her to provide for her ailing parents and impoverished siblings. Extensive back matter makes this title perfect for reports, and this exemplar text should be a staple for all collections looking to diversify their biography, sports, and women's history offerings.âÂÂShelley Diaz, School Library Journal
Sandra Neil Wallace had a lengthy career as a news anchor
and ESPN sportscaster before writing realistic fiction and
nonfiction for young readers. A pioneer in the journalism field,
she was the first woman to cover the National Hockey League on
network TV. Selected as a promising new voice in children's
literature by The Horn Book, Wallace's titles have been named to
state and national awards lists including Bank Street College's
Best Children's Book of the Year, ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, and
Booklist's Top 10 Sports Books for Youth. Visit
sandraneilwallace.com.
Rich Wallace has written more than three dozen novels for
children and teenagers, beginning with Wrestling Sturbridge, which
the American Library Association selected as one of the top 100 YA
books of the twentieth century. His recent forays into nonfiction
include the acclaimed Babe Conquers the World and Blood Brother:
Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights (Calkins Creek,
2016). Visit richwallacebooks.com.
"Babe Didrikson Zaharis is perhaps the most accomplished athlete
that young people have never heard of... Her life story as drawn
from contemporary news articles and interviews is fascinating and
inspirational, and it is punctuated with photographs like Zaharis
shooting targets with Amelia Earhart and giving Sam Snead tips on
his golf swing. This is part sports journalism, part narrative
nonfiction, and part proof that professional athletes can be
exemplary role models for young people." — Booklist
"The life of the renowned athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias offers
the combination of sports, entertainment and celebrity that will
interest young readers, and the Wallaces play it well." — Kirkus
Reviews
"The Wallaces pair up to tackle a great historical sports figure in
this engrossing biography. . . Ample historical background is
interlaced within the narrative, giving context that will help
readers understand Didrikson Zaharias's lasting impact. Especially
engaging are the anecdotes that illustrate the subject's faults as
well as her strengths. . . extensive back matter makes this title
perfect for reports, and this exemplar text should be a staple for
all collections looking to diversify their biography, sports, and
women's history offerings." — School Library Journal
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