Annette Feels Free: The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life Mermaid

(Hardback)

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Description

Discover the incredible true story of The Original Mermaid, Annette Kellerman, a girl who wanted to dance, swim, and feel freeand who grew into a woman who fought for the right to do just that!

Annette loved to dance and twirl and pirouette. But when she got sick and had to start wearing braces on her legs, Annette stopped dancing. Until, one day, her dad took her swimming. Annette could finally dance againin the water! She water danced her way to England, where she performed water ballets, attempted daring dives, and competed in swim races. When she competed against men (and won!), she realized it wasnt fair that women had to swim in full skirts, so she made her own swimsuit, and fought for the right to wear it.

Experience the journey of an independent and determined young woman, who swam, danced, dove, and designed so she could live her life feeling free.

Reviews

A sweeping biography of an influential woman....Annettes legacy in competitive, artistic, and recreational swimming is undeniable, and Mazeikas text deftly balances her subjects varied career. The illustrations have soft edges and strong, textured colorsperfect for depicting so many water scenes....Swim-pressive!" -- Kirkus Reviews * 06/15/2022 *
"Its an enthralling introduction to a remarkable woman, and the splashy, stylized illustrations bring her vividly to life with a real sense of movement and play, while detailed endnotes and fabulous photographs round out the already intriguing story." -- Booklist * 09/01/2022 *

Author Bio

Katie Mazeika is an author andillustratorwith a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. When she isnt in the studio, she likes to spend time at the theater, in her garden, or getting lost in a good book. She is the author-illustrator of picture book biographies includingAnnette Feels FreeandBeulah Has a Hunch!. She lives in Ohio with her family and two dogs.