After reading, i found althea to be very relatable to children who may often get. Reid and freeman celebrate the life of tennis champion althea gibson. Greg couch is the illustrator of many childrens books including the cello of mr. Althea gibson was the first african american ever to compete in and win the wimbledon cup. If she put her mind to it, althea was always the best. She was born in 1927 and grew up in the new york city neighborhood of harlem. Althea is well known for being the first africanamerican tennis player to break the color barrier in 1949. Aug 26, 2019 posted on august 26, 2019 author lulusbookjourney categories black history, childrens books, history for kids, picture book tags althea gibson, black history, books for kids, childrens books, diverse childrens books, childrens literature, diverse childrens books, history, history for kids, picture books, women in history. In 1927, althea gibson, was born in rural south carolina. She was a rebellious child and very often skipped school. How this girl, considered nothing but trouble, became the first african american to win the wimbledon tennis championship in 1957 is both stylishly and compellingly told in this picture book biography. Her debut childrens book will publish in 2020, followed by an illustrated nonfiction book for adults and two other works for kids. The book chronicles gibsons trailblazing journey to become the first black wimbledon, french, and u. The story of tennis fleetoffoot girl by megan reid, illust.
In 1956, she became the first african american to win a grand slam title the french championships. They said althea was a wild tomboy and that she loved sports. Say it to me now, however, and you may suffer the indignity of finding me thrusting sue stauffachers newest picture book, nothing but trouble. Growing up in harlem, she didnt know much about the world of tennis, but when she started hanging out at the cosmopolitan tennis club tennis club for black people in her neighborhood, people immediately took notice.
I pride myself on being able to make a childrens book suggestion that shell appreciate. Althea gibson was the tallest, wildest tomboy in the history of harlem. As a child in 1940s harlem, althea gibson reigned supreme playing stickball, basketball, and paddle tennis. Sep 06, 2007 kids will want to know about althea gibson, a pioneering africanamerican tennis player. The entire book reads like a letter of gratitude to this dude its centered on gibsons mentor, rather than gibson herself. Althea gibson, born in 1927, was the first african american ever to compete in and win the wimbledon cup. In 1960, she cowrote her first memoir with sportswriter ed fitzgerald and the book was entitled i always wanted to be somebody. But when buddy walker, the play leader on altheas street in harlem, watches her play paddle tennis, he sees something more. O by jane cutler, wild child by lynn plourde, and sun dance, water dance.
In 1959, gibson entered the entertainment industry and recorded her first album althea gibson sings. Our members are public and school librarians, library school students, and others. Here is an assortment of childrens books that celebrate women and their accomplishments for womens history month. While working in the library belpre noticed that there were no stories representative of puerto rico, so she began telling puerto rican folktales during storytime, these stories soon evolved into puppet shows. As a girl, althea gibson didnt care much about school or following the rules. Belpre wrote her first childrens book, perez y martina, in 1932. Aug 27, 2007 gibsons accomplishments are the subject of a new childrens book, nothing but trouble. The althea gibson leadership awards are dedicated to the memory of the late professional tennis and golf legend. The 2020 ultimate list of diverse childrens books here wee read. Powerful picture books teaching children about african. Open, and in the lawn tennis championships in wimbledon, england. Say the name althea gibson to me a month ago and youd have met a blank stare.
Jan 21, 2020 reid and freeman celebrate the life of tennis champion althea gibson. The story of althea gibson, her debut picture book. I just read a biography on althea gibson by tom biracree. Gibson caused a lot of problems as a child and often missed school. Open tennis champion, from debut author megan reid and coretta scott king honorwinning illustrator laura freeman. The childrens book council cbc is the nonprofit trade association of childrens book publishers in north america, dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. She was the first of daniel and anna washington gibsons five children. Gibson, who grew up to become the first african american to win the wimbledon.
Almost before a single point was played monday on day 1 of the 2019 u. Library association arne nixon center bay area storytelling festival baynews beatty award board books boston globehorn book awards caldecott medal childrens fairyland cla common core doityourself programs. Althea gibson born born in siver, south carolina, gibson moved to harlem, new york with her family when she was around three years old gibson began competing in tennis tournaments as a teenager with the american tennis association which was a predominantly african american tennis association in 1950 gibson became the. Althea gibson was the first black person to win a wimbledon trophy. She lives in brooklyn, new york with her tiny, very silly dog, luna. I just felt that this book lacked depth and personality. Debut author reid takes readers from 1940s harlem, where fleetoffoot althea gibson is the quickest, tallest and most fearless athlete, all the way to 1957, when she becomes the first black player to. The childrens book council cbc is the nonprofit trade association of childrens book. The following are 20 especially notable childrens books, for the kid in your life who you are spending so much time indoors with lately. The book s title suggests an attitude toward gibson that highlights attitudes toward black female athletes trying to succeed in white society. Sign up to receive our blog and other updates by email.
The story of tennis fleetoffoot girl chronicles this trailblazing athletes journeyand the talent, force of spirit, and energy that made it possible for her to break barriers and ascend to the top of the tennis world. Thanks to childrens letters, usta finally honors althea gibson with statue. Author megan reid and artist laura freeman tell the story of historymaking althea gibson and the talent, force of spirit, and energy that made it possible for her to break barriers and ascend to the top of the tennis world. She was the first black player to win the french 1956, wimbledon 195758, and u. When althea found a black tennis club a few blocks from her home in harlem, she had the selfconfidence to walk right in and start swinging a racket. Stauffacher erases the discipline and drive that gibson must have had to become the first black athlete to desegregate international tennis and get inducted to the tennis and international womens sports hall of. The story of tennis fleetoffoot girl, written by megan reid. Sue stauffacher a biography of althea gibson, the first black tennis player to ever compete in what is now known as the u. Karen deans, a muralist and fine artist, is the author of playing to win. Buddy buys althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, shes on her way to becoming a great athleteand to proving that shes more than just trouble. Kids will want to know about althea gibson, a pioneering africanamerican tennis player. She also became a sports commentator, an advertisement model, and a social cause advocate.
Nothing but trouble is a fine example of a book that combines the authors and illustrators contributions seamlessly to create a greater whole. I want to start with a 2011 biography of althea gibson, written by sue stauffacher and illustrated by greg couch, both of whom are white americans. Three years later, her parents moved to harlem, new york, where the opportunities must have seemed better than being sharecroppers on a cotton farm. Debut author reid takes readers from 1940s harlem, where fleetoffoot althea gibson is the quickest, tallest and most fearless athlete, all the way to 1957, when she becomes the first black player to win the championship at wimbledon. The story of althea gibson, into your arms while screaming into your ears its high points. Althea didnt pay enough attention in class, was always running, and stayed out late, and all of the adults said she was nothing but trouble. Open, a powerful ceremony culminated with the unveiling of a stunning, 18ton statue of althea gibson, who was, in the. I consider althea gibsons book i always wanted to be somebody a worthwhile read. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6.
Mar 06, 2020 althea gibson was the first black person to win a wimbledon trophy. Althea gibson was the quickest, tallest, most fearless athlete in. The story of althea gibson is a good book to teach children about encouragement. Gibson learned to play paddle tennis at a police athletic league play area, and she became the citys paddle ball champion at the age of 12. She just wanted to play tennis against the best athletes in the world. He has received two society of illustrators silver medals. The story of althea gibson, is a biographical account of the interesting life of althea gibson, a pioneer of the professional tennis world for black female athletes. Born in 1927, she was a spirited child and became an enormously talented athlete. Young tennis player childhood of famous americans beatrice gormley, meryl henderson on. The story of althea gibson by sue stauffacher and greg couch. Acl bonds traditional youth librarianship with the cutting edge of the field. Freeman is also the illustrator of the picture book biography, althea gibson. When she put her mind to it, the fleetoffoot girl reigned supreme at every sportstickball with the boys, basketball with the girls, paddle tennis with anyone who would hit with her.
Althea neale gibson august 25, 1927 september 28, 2003 was an american tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. This fictionalized biography focuses on gibsons spirited childhood and highlights the traits that later made her a champion. Gibsons accomplishments are the subject of a new childrens book, nothing but trouble. To learn about the new stamp depicting tennis legend althea gibson, which the u. Thus book is about the life of althea gibson and her journey to being a tennis.
This book talks about how sporty she was as a child, and how althea could never stop moving. Althea gibson facts, worksheets, career, achievements. Gibson was an amazing tennis player and the first african american ever to win at wimbledon. O by jane cutler, wild child by lynn plourde, and sun dance, water dance by jonathan london. Althea gibson was the quickest, tallest, most fearless athlete in 1940s harlem. Althea gibson 19272003 was the first black tennis player ever to compete in the u. Althea gibson by tom biracree goodreads share book. Althea gibson, born august 25, 1927, silver, south carolina, u. Young tennis player childhood of famous americans gormley. The story of althea gibson stauffacher, sue, couch, greg on. Althea gibson 1 1927 american tennis player althea gibson once characterized herself as a harlem street rebel, referring to her adolescence in new york 2 city, when she was often without direction andmore oftenin various trouble. From a young age, althea gibson excelled at all sports. A spirited picture book biography about althea gibson, the first black wimbledon, french, and u. Board books boston globehorn book awards caldecott.
Childrens literature network there are scads of pink princess books for the girlygirls out there. Lulus book journey celebrating books on this journey. Because of segregation, black people werent allowed to compete against white people in sports. From the early years of her life, her family referred to her as nothing but trouble. Special thanks to balzer and bray, an imprint of harpercollins childrens. O by jane cutler, wild child by lynn plourde, and sun dance, water dance by. Aug 26, 2019 almost before a single point was played monday on day 1 of the 2019 u. American libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Aug 14, 2007 buddy buys althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, she s on her way to becoming a great athlete and to proving that she s more than just trouble. Initially, i didnt find that this picture book was written with young learners in mind. The idea for the work came to deans as she searched for. Belpre was the first puerto rican librarian in new york city. Freeman has illustrated over thirty childrens books including hidden figures, for which she received a 2019 coretta scott king illustrator honor.
Its a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Publication date 1968 topics gibson, althea, 1927publisher. Kids can learn about this in the new childrens picture book, nothing but trouble. Her parents worked on a cotton farm, but when she was three years old the family moved north to the harlem area of new york city. In rhythmic, conversational prose and vibrantly impress.
As a girl, althea gibson didnt care much about school or following the rules, but give her a stick, a paddle, a hoop, or a ball, and althea gibson was good to go. Sue stauffacher is a childrens book author who writes the animal rescue team series. One of the most popular series ever published for young americans, these cla. But this picture book shows a young girl who found her passion for fashion and style during a time when children, especially girls, were meant to be seen not. The story of althea gibson, illustrated by elbrite brown, holiday house new york, ny, 2007. In her first childrens book, dean takes a reportorial approach to the althea gibson story and strives to give readers a sense of how the tennis stars extraordinary accomplishments fit within the. And with skill and determination, she did just that, eventually becoming the first black personman or womanto win a trophy at wimbledon. Althea gibson, was the first black to compete in u. The childrens book council cbc is the nonprofit trade association of childrens book publishers in north america, dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting childrens books and reading. Fifty years ago, in 1957, althea gibson became the first africanamerican to win at wimbledon and forest hills a feat she repeated in 1958. The book chronicles gibsons trailblazing journey to. A spirited picture book biography about althea gibson, the first black. The story of althea gibson is the story of the childhood of ms.
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