Strong as Sandow

July 3, 2017
Tate (Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions) sheds light on a fascinating Victorian-era celebrity: Eugen Sandow (born in 1867 Prussia as Friedrich Wilhelm Müller), who helped usher in competitive bodybuilding. “Skinny” and “feeble” as a child, Sandow was fascinated by the physiques of classical statues, and he parleyed that interest into a career, ditching university to become a circus acrobat before embracing a life as an artist’s model, weightlifter, and performer. At one event in New York City, Sandow’s feats of strength led to gasps and faints, though perhaps due to his physicality: “His chiseled muscles were things of beauty.” Strong, crayonlike lines bring definition to those muscles in Tate’s dynamic illustrations, and closing pages detail the not-always-reliable information available about Sandow, Tate’s bodybuilding past, and exercises for young readers. Ages 6–9. Agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary.

June 15, 2017
Tate introduces his readers to one of the first international sports stars in a well-researched biography of bodybuilding strongman Eugen Sandow. Friedrich Wilhelm Muller began life in Prussia as a weak and sickly child who longed for activity. A boyhood trip to Italy changed Friedrich's life when he learned about the gladiators of Rome and their belief in daily strenuous exercise. Tate explores Muller's life as a student, circus performer, and model as he grows (pun absolutely intended) into the professional strongman Eugen Sandow. Digitally created illustrations use dramatic grainy shadows that suggest the inky carbon smudges of old newspaper photos. As in many old newspapers, all the characters depicted in the story are white. Tate wisely introduces some diversity in the backmatter by showing a multiracial group of boys and girls as models for four simple exercises. The other strongmen that appear in the book present a range of physiques, a nicely designed if subtle hat tip to the idea that fitness can be reflected in different weights and sizes. Additional backmatter includes an afterword on Sandow's life, Tate's relationship with the sport of bodybuilding, and a bibliography that includes web links when possible. The only thing that's missing is a timeline, a feature that is always appreciated. Readers will find parallels with Meghan McCarthy's picture-book biography of Charles Atlas, Strong Man (2007), but Tate's celebration of Eugen Sandow makes a solid addition to any biography section. (Picture book/biography. 7-12)

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Starred review from July 1, 2017

Gr 1-4-Sparked by his own passion for bodybuilding and physical fitness, Tate recounts the story of Eugen Sandow (1867-1925) in this inspirational picture book. The biography begins during Sandow's childhood in Prussia, where he used sports and exercise to develop from a frail, skinny child into a robust, physically active young man and later into a world-famous strongman in the United States, with his own successful business enterprise. The text progresses chronologically, with references to various geographic settings and specific historical events. Tate's mixed-media illustrations feature characters, especially Sandow, with oversize, highly expressive faces. The muted colors are appropriate to the historical setting. The artwork is chock-full of humorous, cartoonish details that greatly enhance the story. In the afterword, Tate provides additional biographical information on both Sandow and himself. He includes a few simple exercises for kids and a well-developed bibliography. This title would be a good companion to Meghan McCarthy's Strong Man: The Story of Charles Atlas, reinforcing the themes of physical fitness and the importance of healthy choices. VERDICT An excellent introduction to a historical figure that will appeal not only to children already interested in sports and fitness but also to those in need of encouragement.-Theresa Muraski, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Grades 1-3 At the turn of the twentieth century, German Eugen Sandow was known as the strongest man alive, a trailblazer in bodybuilding and fitness, and a personal trainer to King George V. Though his life story may not be the stuff of history textbooks, his experiences are a window to popular culture in the Victorian era and the emerging idea of celebrity. He was one of the first to inspire people to pay attention to their health and to be physically active long before it became a mainstream practice. He became a world-wide phenomenon by performing feats of strength in circuslike shows and hosting bodybuilding competitions for spectators. Both Tate's narrative and colorful illustrations reveal his own personal experience in the bodybuilding arena and his respect for Sandow's lifelong goal. Throughout his life, he perfected his physique and the larger-than-life persona that accompanied it, but Tate's measured biography doesn't shy away from the imperfect aspects of Sandow's personality.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)