Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles

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Description

Before she was a record-breaking, world-famous gymnast, Simone Biles spent time in foster care as a young child. Nimble and boundlessly energetic, she cherished every playground and each new backyard. When she was six years old, Simone's family took shape in a different way: her grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, adopted her and her sister Adria. Simone was also introduced to gymnastics that same fateful year, launching a lifelong passion fueled by remarkable talent, sacrifice, and the undying support of her family. From her early competitions to the height of her success as an Olympic champion, this is the story of the world's greatest gymnast. For fans of She's Got This by Laurie Hernandez and Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still.

Reviews

A 2022 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Selection

"The rhythm of the rhyming text reflects Biles's energy and movement . . . The artwork captures the power and poise of gymnastics as well as the emotions of each scene. A good addition to the biography section and an excellent book to hand to readers always asking for gymnastics titles." --School Library Journal

"Readers will see how hard Biles worked, pushing past crushing defeat and leaving high school in order to homeschool, to rise into the Final Five of Team USA at the Olympics. . . The author should be applauded for not shying away from the more difficult parts of her backstory. Glenn's illustrations are full of action, energy, and expressive emotion, and she captures her subject on every page." --Booklist

"The creative team behind Brave Ballerina relays the early struggles, diligent training, and eventual successes of record-breaking Olympic gymnast Simone Biles in this movement-filled picture book biography. . . [that] celebrates both Biles's expertise and the range of the human body." --Publishers Weekly

"Meadows emphasizes resilience, demonstrating how Biles met each failure with persistence, getting back up and trying again. Glenn's clean line-and-color illustrations are at their best in the many vignettes of Biles in motion. One double-page spread, in which 10 separate images trace Biles doing her trademark double layout with a half-twist landing, is electrifying." --Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Michelle Meadows is the author of Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins, Hibernation Station, Piggies in Pajamas, and Super Bugs. She lives in Delaware and loves to write at the beach. michellemeadows.com Ebony Glenn is the illustrator of many award-winning books for young readers, including Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins, Mommy's Khimar, and Not Quite Snow White. She lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. ebonyglenn.com