Gr 1–3 —In this picture book biography, Wilma Rudolph's enduring and inspiring legacy is explored. Immediately following the 1960 Olympic Games held in Rome, where she took home three gold medals for the United States, Rudolph toured Europe, noticing how "all kinds of people" coexist and engage in daily activities together, from sitting on a beach to riding a bus. This was in stark contrast to her hometown of Clarksville, TN, where Jim Crow laws prevailed. Upon returning home, her town planned a day in honor of her victories. Rudolph agreed to participate on the condition that Black people would be included in every aspect of the day. The day was a success; the town remained segregated. Rudolph's desire for change and determination to see it happen remained steadfast, through peaceful protests and her participation in the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the text, the authors thoughtfully explore Rudolph's athletic victories as well as her hardships as a child and in her adult life. Eye-catching mixed-media illustrations are equally thought-provoking, depicting Rudolph's unwavering perseverance throughout her life. An author's note provides additional information about Rudolph's life and the Civil Rights Movement. VERDICT An engaging and insightful biography of an American hero—highly recommended for purchase.—Olivia Gorecke

A tribute to the renowned Olympian and Civil Rights activist.Wilma Rudolph's youth and early successes get once-overs in the afterword, but the gracefully written main narrative kicks in after her 1960 Olympics triumph-after her observations that people of diverse races freely used buses, beaches, and restaurants in European countries led her to comment that in America, "They push me around because I'm a Negro. Here in Europe, they push me to the front." Then, learning upon her return to the U.S. that her segregated Clarksville, Tennessee, hometown was planning a "Wilma Rudolph Day," she successfully pressured the town authorities into opening the parade and banquet to all. In paper collage scenes with digital touch-ups, Pinkney Barlow deftly captures her subject's determination both on and off the track as well as filling in the backgrounds with scenes of racially diverse crowds both overseas and at the town's special celebration in Tennessee. Did that celebration bring segregation in Clarksville to an end? No, the authors frankly admit, but Wilma went on "pushing and pulling and protesting," as all who still see her as an example should, "because the race to freedom is not a sprint, but a marathon. Let's go!"Places salutary focus not just on Rudolph's athletic gifts but also on her strength of character. (Picture-book biography. 6-8)