The Olympics

November 1, 2011

Gr 4-7-These books emphasize summer sports, although on occasion winter events are inserted within the appropriate context. While Butterfield uses a narrative approach to topics, each volume has plenty of "Olympic Facts and Stats," sidebars, and colorful photographs to bring variety to the pages. There is some overlap of information among the titles. The author adds elements of humor by relaying certain facts, such as that women were not allowed to compete in track events until 1928 because running was considered unladylike and dangerous. These books could be used to talk about ethics or to zero in on topics for reports, yet there is no insight here that is not available elsewhere.

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2011
Grades 4-7 The Olympic creed may state that the most important thing is not to win but to have performed well, but as this fascinating entry in The Olympics series shows, some have taken this as a suggestion that they can ignore, rather than an oath. (Playing fast and loose with the goal of sportsmanship goes back to ancient Greece.) The book is divided into chapters that cover such topics as bribes, doping, and political problems. Along with famous events, such as the tragedy at the Munich Olympics, in which Israeli athletes were murdered, and the Marion Jones running scandal, in which she was stripped of her medals, there are other shocking and surprising moments. For instance, an East German woman was given so many drugs (without her knowledge) that she later had to have a sex-change operation. The final chapter, detailing future problems athletes and officials may encounter, is particularly interesting. This slim volume, full of historical and contemporary photos, gives readers a lot to think about. A glossary and time line are appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)