Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist

by Allison Crotzer Kimmel, Joanie Stone (Illustrator)

Overview

An inspiring picture book biography of the first woman to win a gold medal in track and field. Young readers intrigued by the Summer 2021 Olympics in Tokyo will be inspired by this story. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children.

"This powerful volume provides a specific but inspiring tale of athletics, feminism, resilience, and teamwork. This vivid portrait is sure to encourage young readers and listeners to pursue their dreams." —Kirkus

With Joanie Stone's colorful illustrations and Allison Crotzer Kimmel's inspirational text, this biography is a reminder of how it takes more than sheer talent to be a champion; an unbeatable spirit of determination and hard work is also needed.

At only sixteen years old, Betty Robinson became the first female gold medalist in track and field in the 1928 Olympics and an overnight sensation. She was set for gold again and had her eyes on the 1932 Olympics.

Her plans changed forever when a horrible plane crash left her in a wheelchair, with one leg shorter than the other. But Betty didn't let that stop her. In less than five years, she relearned how to stand, to walk, and finally to run again and try to taste gold once more in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Perfect for Women's History units, as well as for reports on lesser-known sports heroes, Unbeatable Betty includes an author’s note narrating Betty’s later life after her win, as well as a bibliography.

“The text flows well as it tells this heartening story of grit, determination, and lasting achievement. Using color and texture well, the nicely composed digital illustrations convey a sense of athletic grace that enhances the inspiring story.” —Booklist

“A great choice for women’s history lesson plans, gym teachers, or to teach the character trait of determination. Pair with Kathleen Krull’s Wilma Unlimited or Pat Zietlow Miller’s The Quickest Kid in Clarksville for a dashing good time.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062896070
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/09/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	231,773
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Joanie Stone was born and raised in Virginia, where she still lives today with her husband and young daughter. She spends her days painting in her light-filled studio in the country, surrounded by nature. She has a love for all things vintage, especially children’s book illustration, advertising, and fashion from long ago. She uses her background in traditional hand-drawn animation to bring life and movement to her characters and fills her images with textures reminiscent of children’s books from the past. She hopes her images will inspire kids to pick up a pencil and create their own worlds through stories and art.

Editorial Reviews

"This powerful volume provides a specific but inspiring tale of athletics, feminism, resilience, and teamwork. This vivid portrait is sure to encourage young readers and listeners to pursue their dreams." — Kirkus Reviews

“The text flows well as it tells this heartening story of grit, determination, and lasting achievement. Using color and texture well, the nicely composed digital illustrations convey a sense of athletic grace that enhances the inspiring story.” — Booklist

“A great choice for women’s history lesson plans, gym teachers, or to teach the character trait of determination. Pair with Kathleen Krull’s Wilma Unlimited or Pat Zietlow Miller’s The Quickest Kid in Clarksville for a dashing good time.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

The text flows well as it tells this heartening story of grit, determination, and lasting achievement. Using color and texture well, the nicely composed digital illustrations convey a sense of athletic grace that enhances the inspiring story.

Booklist

The text flows well as it tells this heartening story of grit, determination, and lasting achievement. Using color and texture well, the nicely composed digital illustrations convey a sense of athletic grace that enhances the inspiring story.

Booklist

04/01/2020

Gr 1–5—Long before Wilma Rudolph or Florence Griffith Joyner, there was Betty Robinson, the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field. Born in Riverdale, IL, in 1911, she was only 16 when she won the gold in Amsterdam for the 100-yard dash. America celebrated their smiling "Golden Girl" with parades and accolades, but while training for the 1932 Olympics, a biplane crash left the athlete in a coma with a crushed left leg. Even after she began to heal, one leg was shorter than the other, and the doctors said she would never walk again. The gold medalist was determined not only to walk but to run again. She eventually competed in the 1936 Olympics and won another gold with her relay team, defeating the confident German team the same year that Jesse Owens won four gold medals. The digital illustrations reflect the clothing and technology of the period. One particularly poignant spread shows the injured athlete pushing herself to stand from her wheelchair, use crutches, a cane, and then finally her own two legs to run. Another shows Robinson and her teammates looking apprehensively at their German counterparts with the Nazi flag waving in the foreground. VERDICT A great choice for women's history lesson plans, gym teachers, or to teach the character trait of determination. Pair with Kathleen Krull's Wilma Unlimited or Pat Zietlow Miller's The Quickest Kid in Clarksville for a dashing good time.—Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2020-02-18
“…all that matters is the runner and the track.”

Spotted racing for a train, Betty Robinson was invited to join the boys high school track team, and after only three competitions, the 16-year-old white girl won the first women’s gold medal in track and field during the first Olympic Games that allowed women to run, in 1928. Action-filled illustrations give a sense of the period and focus on her runner’s stance and determined facial expressions while straightforward text points out her resolve, her experiences, and the challenges she faced as a female athlete. Betty Robinson continued to set records while training for the 1932 Olympics—until her biplane crashed and she was told she would never walk again. Wracked with pain, she began a grueling regimen that enabled her to compete in the 1936 Olympic relay and win with her team. Betty’s resilience is presented in a simple, believable way, not mentioning that recovery from such an injury may be impossible. Focusing strictly on the runner and her struggles and accomplishments—the fact that black women did not compete is not addressed while Jesse Owen’s 1936 win in Berlin is mentioned only in the endnotes—this powerful volume provides a specific but inspiring tale of athletics, feminism, resilience, and teamwork.

This vivid portrait is sure to encourage young readers and listeners to pursue their dreams. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews