Kid Olympians: Winter: True Tales of Childhood from Champions and Game Changers

Gr 4-8–This collective biography presents the inspirational stories of 16 Winter Olympic athletes. The author includes a variety of diverse athletes such as para-Nordic skier Cindy Ouellet, snowboarder Chloe Kim, Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, speed skater Shani Davis and ice skater Nathan Chen. Readers will learn about the many challenges that Olympic athletes face and the support structures that help them reach the pinnacle of their sport. Each athlete’s story reflects the common themes of determination, resilience, and family support. These athletes have had to overcome obstacles such as homophobia, racism, mental health issues as well as physical injuries. The author also describes the impact that Olympic training has on the athletes’ families who often have to make financial sacrifices and relocate their homes. By interspersing the narration with direct quotes, the highly accessible text reveals the mindsets of the athletes at different points in their careers. Most pages include engaging graphic novel style illustrations with black line drawings and bold colors. The book also contains a Bibliography with print and digital sources.