The Olympics

Compiled by Andrew Medlar -- School Library Journal, 3/1/2004

In your marks… get set… read! When the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad open a few months from now in Greece, it will truly be a moment of athletic—and literary—importance. The ceremony on August 13 will commemorate the Games returning to their home, for it was in Athens that the modern Olympics were reconvened in 1896, centuries and centuries after the "original" test of humankind's strength took place in this ancient city. Not only are the Greeks excited about this anniversary, it's also a special occasion in this country as 2004 marks the centennial of the first time the competitions were hosted on American soil. They came to St. Louis as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, details of which are available in Robert Jackson's Meet Me in St. Louis: A Trip to the 1904 World's Fair.

With Olympic fever about to strike again, let's be ready. The Games are always a great event for kids, particularly because they happen only a few times during a student's school years. Of course, this also means that many of the books in our collections are aging in multiples of four years and are in need of evaluation, updating, and weeding (Mary Lou, who?).

The Olympics aren't just for the jocks, by the way. Consider linking the Games to a physics lesson on how far a javelin flies. Host a toga party and read-aloud session of the ancient Greek myths. Display international flags and kick off a contest to identify them. The possibilities are as boundless as the athletes' talents. Let the reading begin!—Andrew Medlar

Fiction

FOX, Mem. Koala Lou. illus by Pamela Lofts. Harcourt. 1989.
PreS-Gr 2 –This is a charming story of a young koala bear who dreams of entering her own Bush Olympics. Despite all her hard work and dedicated training, Koala Lou comes up short and takes second prize. But that doesn't mean that her mother cares for her any less, and the book closes by reassuring readers that winning isn't a prerequisite to being loved. The colored-pencil illustrations express that message gently and fancifully with an eclectic cast of Australian creatures.

O'MALLEY, Kevin. Mount Olympus Basketball. illus. by author. Walker. 2003.
Gr 1-4 –Even the powerhouse American basketball team wouldn't be able to hold up on the court against this "Dream Team" of Zeus, Poseidon, and Athena. Readers–reluctant and otherwise–will cheer as the gods take on ancient mortals in this graphic-novel-style match-up, and they'll also enjoy a halftime tour of ancient Greece.

OSBORNE, Mary Pope. Hour of the Olympics. illus. by Sal Murdocca. Random. 1998.
Gr 2-5 –From the ever-popular "Magic Tree House" series comes an adventure in which Jack and Annie travel back in time and find themselves in ancient Greece. They're just in time for the first Olympics, but their typical solving-problem skills, which this time are needed to identify the "Anonymous" author of a story about the legendary Pegasus, is complicated by the fact that girls are not allowed to compete in the Games (or be writers). This is an important historical aspect for kids to discover, and, of course, it doesn't stand in Annie's way as they make their way through this well-researched and readable bit of fiction, and home on the back of the mighty Pegasus itself.

RICHARDS, Jean. The First Olympic Games: A Gruesome Greek Myth with a Happy Ending. illus. by Kat Thacker. Millbrook. 2000.
Gr 1-4 –Here is the "true" story of how the ancient Olympics began, and it's not pretty. It involves a father who cooks his son, a king with decapitated heads on his palace gates, and a murderous servant. Stylized watercolor illustrations provide the perfect complement to the account of Pelops and Hippodamia, who established athletic competitions every four years on the Olympian fields.

STEVENSON, James. The Mud Flat Olympics. illus. by author. Greenwillow. 1994.
K-Gr 3 –This entertaining beginning chapter book chronicles the annual animal Olympics in which moles dig holes and skunks stink, all for the glory of gold. Well, not just for gold, as sportsmanship, friendship, and quick thinking are important elements for athletic success as well. Stevenson's trademark dry wit and subtly hilarious artwork make this one a real winner.

Nonfiction

CLIMO, Shirley. Atalanta's Race: A Greek Myth. illus. by Alexander Koshkin. Clarion. 1995.
Gr 3-7 –Raised by a she-bear after being abandoned by her father, King Iasus, Atalanta grew into a strong woman. But no matter how great her athletic abilities, she wasn't allowed to compete in the Olympics because of her gender. While many champions competed for her hand in marriage, ultimately she was unable to outrun the love of Melanion, with whom she lived a sports-obsessed life (much to the displeasure of Aphrodite). Their story is illustrated in a classical style and borders of Greek columns frame the action.

CROWTHER, Robert. Robert Crowther's Pop-Up Olympics: Amazing Facts and Record Breakers. illus. by author. Candlewick. 1996.
Gr 1 Up –This book is great fun for displays and lap reading. Six spreads feature the marathon, track and field, swimming and diving, gymnastics, rowing, and judo, among other events at the Summer Games. Snippets of interesting facts and entertaining anecdotes are liberally sprinkled among the cartoonlike illustrations, lift the flaps, and not-too-intricate pop-ups. There are no stats from the last two Olympics, but there's enough general or historical information to interest kids.

DONKIN, Andrew. Going for Gold. DK. 1999.
Gr 2-4 –In this browsable "Eyewitness" style reader, children are introduced to Jesse Owens, Shelley Mann, Mamo Wolde, Daley Thompson, Jennifer Capriati, and Kerri Strug. They will learn about the events in which each athlete competed and pick up tips to improve their own skills in such sports as tennis and shot putting. Perhaps, with enough practice, they'll make it to the Games themselves!

HENNESSY, B.G. Olympics! illus. by Michael Chesworth. Viking. 1996.
PreS-Gr 2 –Fun cartoon-style illustrations introduce young readers to myriad activities involved in preparing for and participating in both the Winter and Summer Games. Practice, teamwork, stadium building, medal making and winning, and a sleepy ride home are all part of the experience. By providing a bird's-eye view of the events along with the emotions of the athletes and spectators, this picture book lets everyone in on the excitement.

HOPKINS, Lee Bennett, ed. Sports! Sports! Sports!: A Poetry Collection. illus. by Brian Floca. HarperCollins. 1999.
Gr 1-3 –This easy-reader assembly of verse brings together a multicultural cast of young athletes in a celebration of sports. A variety of poets are included, such as Nikki Grimes and Myra Cohn Livingston, and the pieces are all short, entertaining, and energetic. Likewise, the accomplished illustrations are done in a cartoon style that will appeal to fun lovers and sports nuts, while possibly turning them into poetry fans.

JACKSON, Robert. Meet Me in St. Louis: A Trip to the 1904 World's Fair. HarperCollins. 2004.
Gr 3-6 –One hundred years ago, St. Louis hosted a fair to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase. The book opens with a ride on the Ferris wheel to survey the acres of attractions and thousands of visitors on opening day. The fair is additionally significant considering that St. Louis concurrently hosted the young modern Olympics, and a few short pages explain the modest Games. This balanced title with many contemporary photographs of the Fair's marvels may be a useful addition for large collections.

KENNEDY, Mike. Special Olympics. Children's Press. 2002.
Gr 2-4 –Since its founding by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, the Special Olympics has given people with mental retardation a chance to compete in major athletic events. The games have since grown exponentially and internationally, and this introductory title is solid and informative. While the Special Olympics are separate and distinct from the Paralympics, an event for disabled athletes held in conjunction with the Olympic Games, this book encourages all athletes and readers interested in exciting competition.

KENNEDY, X. J. Elympics. illus. by Graham Percy. Philomel. 1999.
K-Gr 3 –This is a delightful collection of poems about 13 Olympic summer and winter events, as experienced by some very sporty elephants. At three to four stanzas each, the verses express the fun and challenge of competing against other athletes "as big as your house." With great perspective, the good-humored colored-pencil and watercolor art captures the irony (obvious to even the youngest) of these huge creatures on the balance beam and volleyball court. Large, bright art and a rhyming text make this ideal for sharing with a group.

KNOTTS, Bob. The Summer Olympics. Children's Press. 2000.
Gr 2-4 –In typical "True Book" fashion, this title provides a brief introduction and overview to familiarize young readers with what the Olympics are and what they mean. Copious photographs colorfully illustrate the simple text. Specific events are mentioned, as is the history and philosophy of the Games, which will help readers understand why so many people are glued to television and Internet coverage while these events take place.

KRULL, Kathleen. Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman. illus. by David Diaz. Harcourt. 1996.
K-Gr 5 –Rudolph encountered unimaginable obstacles, from polio to racism, on her way to becoming one of the most successful Olympians ever. Krull's down-to-earth yet tall-tale-ish text and Diaz's splendid stylized illustrations, which combine multimedia art scenes overlaid on thematically coordinating sepia photographs, follow the athlete's lifelong race to the gold-medal stand. The author and artist's winning collaboration encourages readers to run along with her.

LYONS, Michele. Going for the Gold. DK. 1999.
Gr 2-5 –As an entry in the "On the Job" series, which focuses on exciting career choices, this book, colorfully illustrated with bold photographs, features two- to three-page profiles of six American Olympians. The quest for athletic success, with the all-encompassing training that demands "a strong body and a strong spirit" is their profession. All are familiar names, Marion Jones and Amy Van Dyken among them, from the past 10 years. An appendix highlights eight others from earlier times.

SCHAEFER, A. R. Olympic Hero: Pro Wrestler Kurt Angle. Capstone. 2002.
Gr 3-6 –Do you cringe at the idea of buying professional wrestling books, even though you know the kids can't wait to read them? Here's one to ease your conscience. The story of a WWF star who was a legitimate champion at the 1996 Games, this quick hi-lo title, accompanied by many full-color photos, tells of Angle's hard work to achieve that goal and make something of his life.

WALLACE, Paula S. The World of Sports. Gareth Stevens. 2003.
K-Gr 4 –Sports are a universal language, and this attractive and practical book looks at 10 different countries and athletic activities that are popular in each one, particularly with children. Wallace includes cricket players in India, soccer fans in Brazil, and surfers in Australia. Several paragraphs per sport are followed by related activities and/or crafts, which makes this one of the few books equally useful for art and gym teachers.

Fiction

CHRISTOPHER, Matt. Olympic Dream. illus. by Karen Meyer. Little, Brown. 1996.
Gr 4-6 –No part of this book actually takes place at the Olympics. The wish to someday be a part of them, though, is often on the mind of Doug Cannon, 14 years old and overweight. A primary reason to consider this title, beyond the immense popularity of the author, is its focus on the boy's athletic determination and the sport of cycling. Despite the popularity of Lance Armstrong and the significant role of cycling in Athens this summer, titles on non-mountain biking are relatively rare.

WALLACE, Rich. Losing Is Not an Option. Knopf/Borzoi. 2003.
Gr 8 Up –A small-town football field may seem the furthest thing from the Olympic Stadium in Athens, but the desire, drive, and determination of young athletes is the same the world over. This collection of short stories by a master writer of edgy sports fiction follows a teen and the people he knows through growing up and competing in, among other things, basketball, running, and life.

Nonfiction

AASENG, Nathan. Women Olympic Champions. Gale/Lucent. 2000.
Gr 5 Up –Seven 20th-century athletes from around the world are brought to life in this solid collective biography. At the beginning of even the modern Olympic movement, females were excluded from participating, and an early chapter details this injustice and the successful efforts to overcome it. And talk about success! Each of these women (Sonja Henie, Nadia Comaneci, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee among them) excelled above and beyond their powerful predecessors to become part of Olympic and women's history.

ANDERSON, Dave. The Story of the Olympics. rev. ed. HarperCollins. 2000.
Gr 4 Up –Olympic runner Carl Lewis provides the foreword to this survey title, giving a first-person perspective on what it's like to grow up watching the Games and then find yourself on the other side competing. The book is divided into two parts. The first includes a chapter on the ancient events, and is then divided into seven chronological sections that discuss the modern Summer and Winter Games. In the second part, six major events are explained. Throughout, the experiences of participating athletes serve to focus attention on Olympic history and politics.

BACHRACH, Susan D. The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936. Little, Brown. 2000.
Gr 6 Up –Based on an exhibit at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, this title sheds important light on less positive aspects of the Olympics. Hitler's hijacking of the event for his own propaganda purposes is obviously an abuse of the spirit of the Games, which, regardless of time and place, never were held in a political vacuum. This superb documentary gives the background of 1930s Germany, the world's boycott dilemma, and, once the flame was lit, the major athletes and events.

BURGAN, Michael. Great Moments in the Olympics. World Almanac Library. 2002.
Gr 4-8 –Covering both summer and winter events, this busy book offers nine chapters with headline-worthy titles on major competitions and athletes of the modern Games. Beyond the basic stories are many sidebars that offer biographical profiles utilizing primary sources, statistics, and records. Some topics are familiar (American track stars) and others are less often seen in print, such as the 1968 long-jump world record and the first ever defeat of the United States basketball team in 1972.

FISCHER, David. The Encyclopedia of the Summer Olympics. Watts. 2003.
Gr 4-8 –This is another high-priority title for certain-to-be-demanded information over the coming months. After an introduction to the history of the ancient and modern Games, each event receives a two- to four-page article, alphabetically arranged, that tells the origin of the sport, how to compete, and its specific role in the Olympics. A "Fast Facts" box tells when the event first appeared, how winners are determined, and gives names of legendary athletes. Profiles of 20 Olympians and gold-medal times recorded from 1896 to 2000 are included.

FORTIN, François, ed. Sports: The Complete Visual Reference. Firefly. 2000.
Gr 7 Up –This comprehensive and reliable volume covers 127 sports, both Olympic and otherwise, arranged into 20 categories such as track and field, equestrian, aerial, racket, and combat. All have extensive, clear, and colorful photographs and computer graphics of playing fields, equipment, and techniques with supporting captions. For each one, the text gives a short history, general athlete profiles, and explanations of how competitions work. The usefulness of this book is extensive and long lasting.

GIFFORD, Clive. Summer Olympics: The Definitive Guide to the World's Greatest Sports Celebration. Kingfisher. 2004.
Gr 5 Up –This ambitious and current title is a fantastic must-have in order to be prepared for this summer. Particularly significant Games from the past are featured (Stockholm, Mexico City, Sydney, etc.) with information on standout stars, events, and countries' medal counts. Additionally, specific events are categorized and introduced with multiple blurbs providing explanations of technique and history. Diagrams and photographs are plentiful and helpful.

HEINRICHS, Ann. Greece. Children's Press. 2002.
Gr 4-8 –With the world's spotlight focused on Greece this year, a contemporary and attractive title on the country is mandatory, and this entry in the "Enchantment of the World" series fills the bill. As a survey of ancient and modern history, culture, government, and geography, this book includes clear maps, a time line, and several pages of "Fast Facts." The ancient and modern Olympics are both profiled, and the importance of the 2004 Games is explained.

KRISTY, Davida. Coubertin's Olympics: How the Games Began. Lerner. 1995.
Gr 7 Up –Reviving the Olympics in modern times was like an endless sprint over hurdles, but Baron Pierre de Coubertin was as determined as any gold-medal track star. By firmly believing in the benefit of sport, international cooperation, and schmoozing, this French aristocrat with a passion for exercise was finally successful in 1896 when a "marvelous" Olympics was held in Athens. This occasion is the foundation of each celebration of the modern Games, and his journey is recounted in this readable narrative full of period photographs.

MORLEY, Christine. The Best Book of Gymnastics. Kingfisher. 2003.
Gr 4-7 –Gymnastics is one of the most watched events at the Summer Games and this title provides an excellent overview of the many elements that fans will be seeing on television. Full spreads feature the history of the sport, training, equipment, and teamwork with well-drawn illustrations, explanatory paragraphs, and information bites and captions. Various components of a meet are given stop-motion visual treatment along with simple and informative facts to increase understanding and heighten excitement.