Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Women in Sports 5.10.17


Every Wednesday I join Alyson Beecher from kidlitfrenzy and other
kidlit bloggers to share wonderful nonfiction picture books.
The intention of today's blog post is to give professionals that work in the
education field new nonfiction reading material and ideas to use 
with students to promote a love of reading nonfiction materials.

I recently came across some great books that are spotlighting women in sports and how being strong is the cool thing to be!  Move over dainty princesses, strong is the new pretty is here!


Girls Race!: Amazing Tales of Women in Sports
Girls Race! Amazing Tales of Women in Sports 
by Kathy Allen
published by Capstone
Highlighting the amazing things women have done in sports - showing how they've "pushed farther, soared faster, held firmer to beat even their own expectations", this book is a great collection of many women's accomplishments in sports.  Quick to read, featuring 1-4 athletes per layout, this book doesn't give full information but provides a good general overview.

Level the Playing Field: The Past, Present, and Future of Women's Pro Sports
Level the Playing Field: The Past, Present, and Future of Women's Pro Sports
by Kristina Rutherford
published by Owlkids Books
Excellent overview of women's sports, how it has evolved over the years in regards to men's sports.  Rutherford looks at topics such as opportunities to play, the view of women as being strong, stereotypical view points, and what women are paid/TV time all in comparison to their male counterparts.  She also interviews many female athletes and asks them specific questions about their sports, how they view female athletes, and how their sport has changed over time.  I appreciate that women from all countries are included.  I was disappointed that there was not mention of the accomplishments of female swimmers.

Strong Is the New Pretty by Kate T. Parker
Strong is the New Pretty: A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves
by Kate T. Parker
published by Workman Publishing
Absolutely LOVE this book.  I want to put it in the hands of all young girls.  They can be anything.  They can be strong.  They can be kind.  They can be joyful.  Beautiful photography, inspirational words.


Hope you found some books to motivate your readers!

6 comments:

  1. I've been thinking about Title 9 and how the world has changed since it passed. When I was a girl, pre-Title 9, I didn't know of any girls' sports teams. "Strong is the new pretty" indeed!

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  2. I'm ordering Strong Is The New Pretty for the grand-girls. Both already starting to be proud of their strength, showing off the muscles! It's wonderful that they have so many opportunities. Thanks for the first two also, Michele. I'll look for them, too.

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  3. YES! I really want to get these books into the hands of young male readers, especially, so that they can be introduced to strong, powerful, resilient female athletes to admire, too! Women athletes should be role models to all young people, whatever their gender, because they're just that awesome! :-)

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  4. These are pretty awesome and I know a kid who would probably adore them. Thanks!

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  5. YES! Show that playing like a girl is a compliment!!!

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  6. It's sad lots of female athletes still don't get the recognition they deserve or that even if they are, they are seen to be only as great as their female counterparts.

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