Strong

by Rob Kearney, Eric Rosswood, Nidhi Chanani (Illustrator)

Overview

A Stonewall Honor Book!

A fresh, charming picture book that shows there are lots of ways to be STRONG.

Rob dreams of becoming a champion strongman. He wants to flip huge tires, lug boulders, and haul trucks — and someday be the strongest man in the world! But he feels like he can’t fit in with his bright leggings, unicorn T-shirts, and rainbow-dyed hair. Will Rob find a way to step into his true self and be a champion?   

With bold illustrations and an engaging, informative text, Strong introduces readers to Rob Kearney and his journey from an athletic kid trying to find his place to the world’s first openly gay professional strongman.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316292900
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/10/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	116,056
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rob Kearney is the only openly gay professional strongman in the world. He is a North American champion, world-record holder, and a Pro Ambassador for Athlete Ally. Rob finds strength in taking pride in himself, support from friends and family, and working hard every day to make his dreams come true. He lives in Massachusetts with his husband, Joey.
 
Eric Rosswood is an LGBTQ+ activist and the award-winning author of Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood and The Ultimate Guide for Gay Dads. He believes being strong means being true to yourself and strives to do that every day by being the best dad, writer, and friend he can be. Eric lives in New York with his husband, Mat, and their two children.

Nidhi Chanani is the award-winning creator of the graphic novels Pashmina and Jukebox and the illustrator of many picture books, including I Will Be Fierce by Bea Birdsong. Rob’s story inspired her to start weightlifting, but she feels strongest when she is drawing, dreaming, and spending time with her family. Nidhi lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kid. She invites you to visit her online at everydayloveart.com.

Editorial Reviews

09/05/2022

Growing up, Rob Kearney loved feeling strong: “He lifted HEAVY boxes, opened the TIGHTEST pickle jars, and always brought the groceries into the house in one trip.” As he matures, he plays football, cheerleads, and weightlifts until, at 17, he learns about strongman competitions. Interested in becoming a weightlifting champion, Kearney trains until he can lift 400 pounds (“That’s more than 114 BIRTHDAY CAKES WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING AND CONFETTI SPRINKLES!”). He even skips wearing vibrantly hued clothes, adhering to the cliché around masculinity that “strongmen do not wear bright, bold colors.” But in chatting with now-husband Joey, Kearney learns that expressing himself authentically is what makes him strong. Authors Kearney and Rosswood develop this picture book memoir about the world’s first openly gay strongman using emphatic text, while Chanani’s vivid hues emphasize Kearney’s bold aesthetic, and depict his 2017 North American Strongest Man Championship donning his iconic rainbow mohawk. Back matter includes a letter from Kearney, further reading, and information about strongman competitions. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"This happy, bright book helps break LGBTQ+ stereotypes and makes for a celebratory read during Pride Month—and all year long."—Booklist

"Real-life strongman Kearney and LGBTQ+ parenting expert Rosswood team up to create this positive, affirming picture-book memoir…. A bright, bold picture-book biography."—Kirkus Reviews

"The illustrations are vivid and dynamic. This is an important and unique topic told in an engaging narrative style, featuring a little-known sport, a great athlete, and an even greater story of ultimate sportsmanship."—SLJ

"Authors Kearney and Rosswood develop this picture book memoir about the world’s first openly gay strongman using emphatic text, while Chanani’s vivid hues emphasize Kearney’s bold aesthetic."—Publishers Weekly

"I love everything about STRONG! The writing, the illustrations, and most of all, the message to be yourself. Rob is mighty, sturdy, and powerful. He is also insecure, self-conscious, and full of doubt. But when he falls in love with Joey, he finds the strength to come out and be himself. Wonderful writing, fabulous, illustrations, and meticulous research make this book, like Rob himself, a true winner."—Lesléa Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies and Sparkle Boy

"Rob Kearney is a Strongman and his story will show readers what being a strong man means. It means being honest. Being yourself. And being willing to let others know who you really are. Reading this book can help kids find their own personal strength, too."—Rob Sanders, author of Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag and Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the Aids Memorial Quilt

From the Publisher

07/08/2022

Gr 2–4—This is an autobiography of Rob Kearney and his career as a competitive weight lifter and body builder. It follows him from childhood, when he showed a prowess for super strength, doing a variety of sports from football to cheerleading before moving forward to adulthood where he begins to train for the Strongman competitions. Kearney's story is inspiring as it shows how perseverance and tenacity are important traits for working towards goals. It is also a story about gender expression and identity. His personal style is celebrated and encouraged by his very supportive partner, Joey, who not only trains with him but always motivates him to be true to himself, from rainbow hair to floral and pastel training clothes. The book is also filled with facts about a sport that isn't widely featured in children's literature. For example, a diagram of all the necessary gear needed to train for the Strongman competition provides a visual element without distracting from the story's narrative. The book is filled with relatable anecdotes and moments that readers can connect to; Kearney actually comes in last in one of the competitions. The illustrations are vivid and dynamic. VERDICT This is an important and unique topic told in an engaging narrative style, featuring a little-known sport, a great athlete, and an even greater story of ultimate sportsmanship.—Melanie Okadigwe

School Library Journal

2022-02-09
The first openly gay strongman overhauls stereotypes.

Whether opening “the TIGHTEST pickle jars” or carrying many packed grocery bags into the house all at once, Rob Kearney is a strong kid. As he grows up, he finds his calling in strength sports. A teacher introduces 17-year-old Rob to the Strongman competition, kindling his dream of becoming a weightlifting champion. First, he trains to lift 150 pounds, then 200, then 300, then 400—the equivalent of “more than 800 STUFFED RAINBOW UNICORNS.” Despite all of his training, Rob flounders at his first big competition since he doesn’t feel quite right in his “boring” and “bleak” weightlifting gear. That changes when Rob falls in love with Joey, who pushes Rob to wear whatever “bright, bold colors” he wants. But can Rob win the title of “strongest person in North America?” Real-life strongman Kearney and LGBTQ+ parenting expert Rosswood team up to create this positive, affirming picture-book memoir. Although one scene depicts an instance of dress code discrimination, the story maintains a sunny tone. Certain words are bolded throughout the text for emphasis, particularly those related to Rob’s impressive feats. Rob and Joey are both White and have mohawks, but Chanani’s colorful digital illustrations depict ethnically diverse spectators. Backmatter delves more deeply into strongman events and—staying within the gender binary—mentions the existence of “a separate strongwoman division.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A bright, bold picture-book biography that challenges conceptions of masculinity and strength. (author's note, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews