Traveling Shoes
The Story of Willye White, US Olympian and Long Jump Champion
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Untold until now, here is the story of Black sprinter and long-jumper Willye B. White, who went from picking cotton as a child in Mississippi to competing and winning in the 1956 and 1964 Olympics.
Future Olympian Willye B. White was born in 1939 in Money, Mississippi—but money was exactly what she didn’t have. Abandoned by both her parents, she worked alongside her grandparents in the cotton fields. Willye had big dreams, though. So when her cousin noticed she was the fastest runner around, Willye jumped at the chance to put on her traveling shoes and run her way to better opportunities. And run Willye did, first for the Tennessee State Tigerbelles and then for the US Olympic team. Her struggles weren’t over though—time and again, Willye had to remind herself, “I believe in me,” whether she was running and jumping or witnessing the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement.
Through Alice Faye Duncan’s signature combination of poetry and prose and Keith Mallett's lifelike illustrations, readers will be inspired by Willye White’s persistence and will learn how she contributed to Black progress with muscle and grit.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Worn track shoes tell the story" of track and field Olympian Willye White (1939–2007) in a biographical picture book conveyed via a mix of direct quotations, poems, and images. Born in Mississippi, White was raised by her maternal grandparents, who had her pick cotton during the summers, and at age 10 she was coaxed by a cousin to try out for the high school track team. Engaging in relentless training, she subsequently became a trailblazer for Black and female athletes, competing internationally in a career that spanned three decades and included five Olympic Games. Piecing together White's early life through her 20-year track and field career, Duncan emphasizes a strong sense of self-confidence and determination ("Winning is not effortless./ Practice is required"). Mallett's realistic digital illustrations appear almost photographic in depicting White experiencing triumphs and setbacks throughout this inspirational story. A timeline and author's note conclude. Ages 7–10.
