The Story of Simone Biles: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers

by Rachelle Burk

Overview

Discover the life of Simone Biles—a story about going for the gold for kids ages 6 to 9

Simone Biles has been called the greatest gymnast of all time, winning five Olympic and 25 World Champion medals by age 22. Before she wowed the world with her incredible gymnastics skills, Simone was an energetic young girl who dreamed of becoming a top gymnast. She trained for hours every day and made many sacrifices to pursue her goals. Explore how Simone Biles went from being a kid growing up in Texas to an Olympic athlete who has won more gymnastics medals than anyone in history.

• Independent reading—This Simone Biles biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own.
• Critical thinking—Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Simone's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.
• A lasting legacy—See how Simone's accomplishments helped open doors for female athletes across the world.

How will Simone's hard work and determination inspire you?

Discover activists, artists, athletes, and more from all across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures like: Misty Copeland, Jackie Robinson, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, and Maya Angelou.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647397753
Publisher:	Callisto Publishing
Publication date:	09/29/2020
Series:	The Story of Biographies
Pages:	66
Sales rank:	68,894
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	820L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

RACHELLE BURK is the author of fiction and nonfiction books for children, including The Story of Simone Biles and Stomp, Wiggle, Clap, and Tap: My First Book of Dance. Visit her at rachelleburk.com.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 An Olympian Is Born 1

Chapter 2 The Early Years 8

Chapter 3 Balancing Act 15

Chapter 4 Becoming a Champion 21

Chapter 5 Making the Team 29

Chapter 6 The Olympics 35

Chapter 7 The Greatest Gymnast 42

Chapter 8 So … Who Is Simone Biles? 48

Glossary 54

Bibliography 58

Editorial Reviews

"Gr 2-5–This early chapter book biography unveils the remarkable story of gymnastics legend Simone Biles, who stands at just 4 feet 8 inches. The interactive text is enriched with bold vocabulary, myth and fact highlights, maps, discussion questions, and time lines, offering readers a dynamic reading experience. Biles’s profound impact on sports and the Olympics is skillfully portrayed, emphasizing her strong focus and hard work." — School Library Journal

“As a reading specialist, I look for rich literature that will appeal to my students at the elementary level. This book is filled with a robust vocabulary and has wonderful text features like "myth and fact," a timeline, and even a family tree. Rachelle has shared such personal details about Simone's life that students will be interested in turning the page to read more. All these features will help each and every reader engage with this biography.” —Linda Lyon, Reading Specialist

“Reading the biography reminded me of my time in competitive gymnastics. I also talked to myself to remain calm and have fun. I was reminded of how wonderful I felt after competing and pushing myself to do better next time. I love the positive energy and honesty of the story even around some rather tough topics of ‘family’ and ADHD. It was refreshing to know that Simone was allowed to make her own decisions about her career. I feel it is powerful for children to know they can make their own decisions.” —Kathy Coressel, Senior Regulatory Manager, 13 years in gymnastics

“For any youngster bold enough to dream, The Story of Simone Biles shows that hard work and determination can lift up even those from humble beginnings to golden moments. Although the path was never easy, Simone overcame obstacles and setbacks to become the greatest gymnast of all time. She also proudly carried her nation’s flag on the world’s biggest stage. Her journey, as told in rich detail by Rachelle Burk, inspires the child in all of us to set goals and keep trying even if everyone else says it’s impossible.” —Robert Dvorchak, Retired Journalist and Sports Writer

“An entertaining and informative introduction to an Olympic champion. Biles' hard work, dedication, and perseverance to her gymnastics career are highlighted and provide an inspiring story for young girls. A perfect addition to classroom sports biographies for young readers.” —Darlene Beck Jacobson, Children's Book Author

From the Publisher