The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

February 8, 2016
In 1960, African-American runner Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals in the Olympic Games. In a story about teamwork and determination, Miller (Sharing the Bread) imagines the children Rudolph might have inspired. Alta lives in Rudolph's hometown of Clarksville, Tenn., which will be honoring the runner's victories in an upcoming parade (an author's note explains that the parade was the first major non-segregated event in Clarksville's history). Alta adores Rudolph and considers herself to be Clarksville's fastest kid, until she meets Charmaine, who has a brand-new pair of running shoes and boasts, "I'm faster than anyone." Several one-on-one races later, Charmaine's strutting confidence continues to irk Alta, whose family can't afford new shoes. But the girls overcome their initial prickliness in order to raceâtogetherâto the parade with a celebratory banner in tow. Working in watercolor, Morrison (Little Melba and Her Big Trombone) gives the girls abundant personality as they size one another up with laserlike glares. Miller does the same, narrating from Alta's no-nonsense point of view. Ages 5â8. Author's agent: Erin Murphy Literary Agency, Ammi-Joan Paquette. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

January 15, 2016
Two little girls compete to meet a local hero. It's 1961. Tomorrow there'll be a big parade in Clarksville, Tennessee, honoring hometown girl Wilma Rudolph, "the fastest woman in the world" and winner of multiple Olympic gold medals. Alta, along with friends Dee Dee and Little Mo, likes to pretend that she's the fastest woman in the world and hopes to meet her idol. But there's a new girl in the neighborhood, Charmaine, with an abundance of attitude and a pair of beautiful new shoes, shoes "Like Wilma's," with stripes down the sides and laces so white they glow. Alta challenges her to a race, to the mailbox and back. Alta wins, thinking "Wil-Ma Ru-Dolph" all the while. Charmaine suggests another run, to the corner; this time, she wins. Walking away, Alta's foot hits a rock, and the rock hits Charmaine. They almost fight. But the next day, Alta is struggling to carry the big banner for Wilma when Charmaine struts by. In a turnaround, she helps out, and all four find a perfect spot to watch. Wilma Rudolph smiles at the new friends and waves. Miller's girl-power story also tucks in some nice observations on friendship. Morrison's watercolor illustrations are vibrant and evocative, capturing the thrill and pride in this African-American community for its famous daughter. A helpful author's note adds context. Sweet and inspiring. (Picture book. 5-8)

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March 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-A story about teamwork and perseverance, this homage to the great Wilma Rudolph takes place in 1960 at about the time of the homecoming parade for the Olympian, which occurred in Clarksville, TN-the first integrated event in that town. Young Alta idolizes the great runner and practices her own gait using a rhythmic chant: "Wil-ma Ru-dolph." When she meets a girl with a competitive spirit and brand-new sneakers, Alta has to remind herself that Wilma Rudolph overcame obstacles greater than worn-out shoes. On the day of the parade, a banner that Alta is making is too bulky for one person to carry the whole way, and the new girl, Charmaine, offers a solution-the girls and their friends run an Olympic-style relay to get the banner to the parade site on time. Morrison's full-bleed watercolor illustrations give an effective sense of time and place and render the characters movement well. An author's note provides brief biographical material emphasizing Rudolph's athletic achievements and her role in integrating her hometown. VERDICT A solid addition for large collections.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence, RI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2016
Grades K-2 Alta is the fastest runner in Clarksville, so an imminent visit to town by African American Olympian Wilma Rudolph could not be more exciting. But then Charmaine appears, sporting brand-new sneakers and an aura of confidence that rattles Alta. The girls challenge each other to a few races, each winning and losing, intensifying the competition. Soon enough, though, the competition turns to collaboration and friendship. The girls make one last dash, to Rudolph's welcome-home parade, where they collapse and observe, There are flags. Bands. Noise. / Black faces. And white ones. Alta and Charmaine are inspired by Rudolph's athletic accomplishments, but her success, as Charmaine points out, includes the efforts of a relay team. What begins as a story of individualism expands to embrace the notion of teamwork and unification, bolstering Rudolph's influence on the girls and on history itself. Morrison's bold, expressive watercolors capture the flavor of the era (1960s) with a contemporary tone that will make this story feel strikingly current.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)