School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Alta is obsessed with Wilma Rudolph, who has just won three Olympic gold medals. Alta is a poor but determined kid, living in her idol's hometown of Clarksville, TN, and she's sure she's following in Wilma's quick-paced footsteps. Wilma is coming back to Clarksville tomorrow for a celebratory parade. As Alta is daydreaming about winning her own gold, Charmaine, a new girl with swagger and flashy sneaks, saunters up and challenges her to a race. While they are running, their feet tangle and Alta tumbles to the ground, her self-proclaimed title of "Quickest Kid in Clarksville" in peril. But on the way to Wilma's parade the next day, Alta discovers the power of friendship-and the strength of combining talents toward a common goal instead of always battling to be the best. Sisi Aisha Johnson imbues Alta and Charmaine with sassy Southern charm. The book is read with and without page turns, and both tracks include a reading of the author's note, which features brief biographical information about Wilma Rudolph. VERDICT This sweet story about conflict resolution, friendship, and dreaming big is recommended. ["A solid addition for large collections": SLJ 3/16 review of the Chronicle book.]-Jennifer Verbrugge, State Library Services, Roseville, MN © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
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 race-together-to 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 5-8. Author's agent: Erin Murphy Literary Agency, Ammi-Joan Paquette. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Miller introduces us to Alta, the self-proclaimed "quickest kid in Clarksville" -- the same town that her shero, Wilma Rudolph, is from. As Alta daydreams about an upcoming parade celebrating the 1960 Olympic track star, she is confronted by Charmaine, a new girl with shiny new shoes (shoes "like Wilma's") who has the audacity to try to claim Alta's title. Their first few races against each other end in a draw, and their interactions are less than cordial. Charmaine taunts Alta about her old shoes, and in response Alta admits, "My toe hits a rockThat rock hits Charmaine." On the day of the parade, however, the girls must decide whether or not they can stop the angry competition, and they begin to collaborate. Miller has penned an engaging, lively story. Of particular note is Alta's way of keeping pace as she runs -- her repeated refrain of "Wil-ma Ru-dolph. Wil-ma Ru-dolph" echoes the story's steady rhythm. Illustrator Morrison (Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, rev. 11/14) has added a softness to his style with the use of watercolors; however, his familiar use of elongated limbs is on full display in the racing scenes between Alta and Charmaine. The remarkable fact that, in the Jim Crow South, Wilma Rudolph insisted that the celebrations in her honor be integrated is hinted at in the text, in Alta's fragmented sentences describing the parade ("Black faces. And white ones"); an author's note provides fuller mention ("Wilma's celebrations were the first major events for blacks and whites in Clarksville history") as well as further information about Rudolph's life and achievements. eboni njoku (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
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.--Chaudhri, Amina Copyright 2016 Booklist
