Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Runner

by Jo Harper, Meryl Henderson (Illustrator)

An inspiring story of the first American female athlete to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games shares her triumphs over childhood illnesses to become a high school basketball player. A Childhood Of Famous Americans title.

Genres: Biography, History, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jo Harper grew up in the Texas Panhandle riding horses and eating jalapeño peppers. She comes from a long line of Texas tellers, and is herself a dynamic storyteller, especially of tall tales. Her books, some of which are co-written with her daughter,range from baby books to young adult novels.Her young adult novel, DELFINO'S JOURNEY, won the Western Heritage Wrangler award. PRAIRIE DOG PIONEERS won the Willa Award. OUTRAGEOUS, BODACIOUS BOLIVER BOGGS was an A.B.A. Pick of the List book and was presented on PBS Storytime. JALAPENO HAL was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, as was I COULD EAT YOU UP! She has taught for many years at all levels, first grade though college. She presents to all grade levels, and her lively, entertaining programs subtly teach reading and writing skills as well as values. She received a NEH grant to study the fusion of visual and verbal art at Columbia University. She also studied in Spain and Mexico.Her books include fiction, biography, tall tales, and history, and are set in Texas and Mexico.

Reviews

[Anna Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this for the "read outside" challenge during the Reading Rush readathon. I discovered the Childhood of Famous Americans series when I was about 9, and I read them as if I were eating candy. I enjoyed this bio of Wilma Rudolph, as I didn't know much about her. Really admire her, and even more, I'm anxious to read an adult biography of her now!

(I'll probably read all of these I can find again. Still like eating candy!)

[Lidik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give it two stars, even though I read this like five times growing up.

[Janell]

One of the best in an excellent series.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this after someone mentioned being perturbed at the book's discussion of Rudolph having a daughter before she was married. Found it handled touchingly and unflinchingly.

You get what you get with a COFA book, but I thought this was readable and pretty well done. Worth reading if you don't know Rudolph's story--I didn't.

[hAiLeY · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good biography book. I am reading this biography for my book report. Wilma Rudolph was a real inspiration to young female athletes!