Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive

by Carole Boston Weatherford, Eric Velásquez (Illustrations)

Jesse Owens grew up during the time of Jim Crow laws, but segregation never slowed him down. After setting world records for track in high school and college, he won a slot on the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. That year, the Olympics were in Berlin, then controlled by the Nazis, and Hitler was certain they would be a chance to prove to the world that Aryans were superior to all other races. But the triumph of Jesse's will helped him run through any barrier, winning four gold medals and the hearts of millions, setting two world records, and proving the Nazi dictator unmistakably wrong. The story of Jesse Owens comes alive for young readers with Carole Boston Weatherford's award-winning free verse poetry. Eric Velasquez tackles this challenging subject with the use of pastels for the first time in twenty years-a technique that is both heart-stopping and immediate.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Sports, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Biography Memoir

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 26, 2006

About the author

Carole Boston Weatherford is a children's book author and poet who mines the past for family stories, traditions, and struggles. A number of CAROLE's books tell the stories of African-American historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Jesse Owens, and Billie Holiday. Other books recount historical events such as the Greensboro Sit-ins and the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. CAROLE's books have received a wide variety of awards, including a Caldecott Honour for “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom”.

Reviews

[Aimee Fuhrman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual and innovative approach to telling the story of the man who held the longest standing world record in the 100 meter dash. The story of his rise to track star and his experiences in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Berlin are all done in short, unrhymed poems. The illustrations are excellent and the book contains back material that expands on Jesse's story. Though not as thorough as some books about his life and not as appealing to children as a narrative approach, this is relatively well done.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can really relate to this book in so many ways. Jesse Owens was a all star in track and he won in the olympics 4 times in 1936 in the following races. 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and the long jump along with the 110 meter hurdles. Jesse Owens as a kid his dream was to be an olympian in track and his dream slowly started coming true when he was breaking records in high school and college. He also won 3 NCAA titles in college. Jesse Owens had a lot of support to hid track career and if it wasn't for his family and friends he wouldn't have made it as far as he did. My favorite part in this whole book was when Jesse was going through segregation it made him trade much harder and it also just showed how much dedication he had for the sport he loved so so much. I would recommend this book to anyone that is in track and likes to read about certain track stars or all stars because if I were to ever meet Jesse id want so many pointers and tips for the races that I am in.

[Emily Sammartino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jesse Owens was an African American man who made history by winning the gold in 3 separate areas of the Olympics in 1936. Despite being faced with hatred by the leader of Berlin who was hosting the Olympics, Adolf Hitler, Jesse was triumphant and set records destroying Hitler’s hopes for domination. I personally had never heard of Jesse Owens or his story, so I found this book fascinating. I am surprised not to have talked about Owens in school growing up because the story of his success, not only in the Olympics at that time but his childhood and on after, demonstrates courage and the determination to overcome evil in a sense. The story is told as if you are Jesse Owens which for the reader is an empowering experience and effective in having the reader put themselves in that frame of mind. This book was very well written, and I would read this book again.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesse Owens is well-known as the fastest man alive. He never let segregation slow him down and won a spot on the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. At the Berlin Olympics, he won four gold medals, and set a world record in the long jump that stood for 25 years.

While people know of Owen's triumph on the field and track, it is not well known that his triumph in the Olympics crushed Hitler's dream of proving to the world the superiority of the German "race." It is important that students learn about the connection between Jesse Owens and Adolph Hitler to deepen their understanding of both racism and Nazi Germany.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture books have to have a conflict for children to engage, and then take a side. Obviously, the side of the protagonist. If children in K-2 are familiar with the Holocaust and who Hitler is, they will know who the villain is and what the conflict is. I recommend this for grades 3 and up.

The villain and conflict are never explicitly presented, but older elementary students have a better grasp of nuance and are impressed that Jesse Owens won four gold medals.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. I am partial to Jesse Owens and this picture book biography does an excellent job of building excitement and conveying the importance that his victories, his honor and his charm meant to those who witnessed his success in the 1936 Olympic Games in Hitler’s Germany.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art in this book was dead on for what Jesse Owens looked like - not stylized or anything. Nice use of verse.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and pictures.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, by far, my favorite biography of Jesse for children. It opens up so many good questions and discussions. Highly recommended.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and worded book to introduce Jesse Owens- not a comprehensive history of his great Olympic hero but a great picture book to introduce him to your family.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

So well done. Lengthy for a picture book but short enough for even younger elementary ages to appreciate. I love the part about his friendship with Luz Long.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written with gorgeous illustrations. This is an inspiring picture book biography!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesse Owens will always be one of my personal heroes because of his grit, determination, and passion. Another great biography highlighting his achievements and accomplishments.

[Bookjeannnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent & Important! Henry

[Addie Lauver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weatherford, Carole B. Jesse Owens Fastest Man Alive. Walker & Company, 2007. 30 p. Gr. 1-4

This non-fiction biography of Jesse Owens is a very powerful story. The story of Jesse, who started in the cotton fields and had big dreams that took him far. Taking place in Berlin he needed to try and ignore and avoid everything involving German’s, but he still felt the evil. Hitler did not want him there but he needed to prove him wrong. He did not care what Hitler thought. Nothing was going to stop Jesse. Not Hitler, not rain, not a muddy track because he was ready. Jesse Owens won that race and everyone cheered. Hitler’s hopes and dreams to sweep the games where destroyed. He stood proud on the victory stand with a wreath circle of his head, “The Star Spangled Banner” playing and the American flag being raised. He was referred to as “the black arrow,” “black bullet,” ”black panther,” “whirlwind”. But, he still had races to run and history to write. His competitor Luz Long was no sore loser he became a friend that was richer than the gold medal.
This is a great story about a great athlete and students can learn a lot from it. It is important to remain humble when competing. With that being said I would have the students compete at a classroom “Olympics”. I would choose various activities that fit the ability and interests of all of the students. We will then have a ceremony while still remaining humble about the results. Another way to connect is to ask if anyone has ever competed against a friend or someone that later became a friend. How did they themselves react to the results, how did they feel and why. Remind the students that it is important to not be a sore loser and that it is important to be kind and friendly.

[Andrew Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot Summary: Jesse Owens is a sharecroppers son who lives in the times of racism and hatred towards African Americans. Jesse overcomes the horrible conditions and lands himself a spot on the United States Olympic Team. Even with the odds of Hitler against him, Jesse wins multiple gold medals and shatters records. Jesse was the fastest man alive. He was an icon.

Evaluation: This picture book biography does meet the requirements for plot, setting, theme, and etc. This subject is such an interesting topic to read about because it is so recent. The story seems to be accurate in all forms, it talks about the pre, during, and after parts of Jesse's story. The author definitely shoots for the facts and explains the situations in unique form. The pictures that the author created help the reader believe the story. It may have helped to have had actually pictures of the sprinter. Overall the writing style seems to mesh well with the content. It is easy for the reader to read.

Personal Response:
This picture book biography is a unique because I feel that student's of all races would benefit from reading this. The dark area's of American History or other countries histories are times that student's need to be aware of, however the student's also need to see the people who took matters into their own hands. The readers need to hear stories where people persevere through dreadful obstacles. I would ask the student's to think of times where they had to persevere through rough times. I would also ask the student's to analyze what happened, why it happened, and how it happened. After reading, the picture book biography students will complete a timeline featuring the events.

[Princolitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó, este tipo de libros con estas ediciones son las que deberían estar en todas las escuelas primarias. La forma de narrar la historia de Jesse Owens como si el narrador le estuviera hablando del futuro y lo que realizaría al propio personaje Jesse fue increíble. Una historia que debería ser conocida por todos, y aunque aquí solo se cuenta un poquito, levanta el interés para este atleta que logró lo nunca pensado en unos Juegos Olímpicos, en una época en la que ser negro significaba que ni siquiera podía dormir en el mismo hotel donde dormían los blancos y peor aún, cuando las olimpiadas fueron en Alemania, donde gobernaba Hitler.

[Zach Margulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good it showed how Jesse Owens life was in a good stand point and a bad. They showed a lot off good and bad things the resulted in his life. This book made me want to know more about Jesse Owens because it showed information but only the really big events not the little tiny thing that I want to find out about. This book was perfect for my ted talk I had to give which was about grit. Jesse had so much grit in his live. I hope you will read this book because it is one of my favorites!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful illustrated book tells the story of Owens triumph at the 1936 games completely through poetry. It focuses mostly on the events of the games, but almost makes the effort to enlighten the readers to the prejudices Owens faced during his life time, both in the segregated United States and Nazi Germany

Read my full review at my blog The Nonfiction Manifesto
http://non-fic-manifesto.blogspot.com...

[Ronster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography written through poetry. Jesse Owens became the fastest man alive at the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin. He beat the Germans, whom Hitler believed were superior to all. Owens showed courage in times of hardship. Good writing and illustrations from either paint or oil pastels. Use in units about WWII, discrimination, Olympics andovercoming hardship.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the author gave historical background to Jesse Owen's life and wrote so that a young reader will feel a little bit of what it was like to be Jesse Owens and experience the enormity of his accomplishments at such a difficult point in world history. I will certainly be sharing this book with kids at my school.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book that eloquently describes Mr. Owens accomplishments and the racism that he faced in Berlin and at home. This would be a really good book to introduce the concept of racism to a child and to open a discussion about how to treat others.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike Weatherford's John Coltrane book, this one is packed with useful information. A great tie-in read loud for World War II thematic unit as well segregation in the United States. Again, this book reads like poetry with its use of short stanzas.

[Crystal Crites · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the pictures and story come together to make the reader feel as though they are in the moment with Jesse Owens. This was a very well written book for children to adults to read and appreciate.

[Tara Zimmerman]

Elementary. Information on Jesse Owens is brief and focused. Not incredibly compelling.

[Tammy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I use it for two purposes, Jesse was born in Alabama so I tie Alabama into my Great Depression/WWII unit. I also tie in racism while teaching about Hitler's rise to power.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focuses mostly on Owens's 1936 Olympic appearance in Berlin.