Laurie Hernandez

April 1, 2017
Gr 1-3-Standard fare for young readers: unadorned text paired with colorful photographs. The emphasis is on the athletes' careers with little about their personal lives outside of basic information regarding birth and family. Life achievements are presented chronologically and -Did You Know?- inserts offer notable tidbits. The narratives are simple, if somewhat mundane. The colorful photographs are pleasing but not outstanding-and many of them are similar to those featured elsewhere. One notable aspect is the inclusion of fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad in the lineup. Librarians will be hard-pressed to find materials on Muhammad for this audience and should consider this title. Pronunciation is provided for more difficult words. VERDICT Excepting Muhammad, the other Olympians are better covered in other titles.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017
Grades 1-3 Sixteen-year-old Laurie Hernandez, the fourth Hispanic woman ever to compete on the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, rose to prominence as one of the Final Five in the 2016 Olympic Games. She began gymnastics when she was 5 and moved to elite level at age 12. The text describes Hernandez's rigorous training with Coach Maggie Haney and how she had to be homeschooled to fit her practice schedule. The final chapters relate her Olympic events and victories, as well as the Final Five's post-Olympic celebrity. The book features two-to-four-page chapters; a large font with ample white space; short, uncomplicated, yet interesting, sentences (four per chapter); easy vocabulary; and striking color photographs. Text is generally placed on the left page, with a full-page photograph on the facing page. Small inset photographs, text boxes, or charts are superimposed on each page. For younger children interested in Olympic stars and for budding researchers, the book includes a glossary, a link to the publisher's website, and an index. The popularity of this star ensures this title will be in high demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)