The Golden Girls of Rio

by Nikkolas Smith (Illustrator)

Overview

The women athletes of the 2016 Summer Olympics captivated the world: Simon Biles, the most decorated American gymnast of all time; Katie Ledecky, who shattered swimming records in multiple events; Michelle Carter, the first American gold medalist in shot put; Simone Manuel, the first African American woman to medal in individual swimming. Their accomplishments amazed us, as did their personal stories of persistence and hard work.

The Golden Girls of Rio focuses on the paths to glory for these women athletes, how they got their start and rose to meteoric heights in the Rio games. The other swimming and gymnastic teammates are included in the story as well.

An inspiring story, bursting with color and action and life, that will make you smile to see these champion athletes as little girls, and to revisit their triumphs in achieving Olympic gold.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510722484
Publisher:	Sky Pony
Publication date:	11/15/2016
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nikkolas Smith, a native of Houston, Texas, is a Master of Architecture recipient from Hampton University, and current Facility Designer&Concept artist at Walt Disney Imagineering. After hours, Nikkolas also leads in youth mentoring on Saturdays, with the kids of Compton&Watts, CA, giving lessons in digital painting and life skills for success. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
Nikkolas Smith, a native of Houston, Texas, is a concept artist, children's book author, and Hollywood film illustrator. He is the author/illustrator of The Golden Girls of Rio, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, My Hair Is Poofy and That's Okay, and most recently, World Cup Women. As an illustrator of color, Nikkolas is focused on creating captivating art that can spark important conversations in today's world and inspire meaningful change. Many of his viral and globally published sketches are included in his book Sunday Sketch: The Art of Nikkolas. He lives in Los Angeles, California. Find out more at nikkolas.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/01/2017
Gr 3–5—Girls all over the world were captivated and inspired by the performance of Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Michelle Carter, and Simone Manuel during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. These athletes showed the world what big dreams, hard work, and determination can accomplish. Smith follows these amazing gymnasts from childhood dreams to winning the gold at the Rio games. While there were numerous women who competed at the Olympics, this title focuses primarily on Manuel, the first African American woman to win a medal in an individual swimming event; Biles, the most decorated American gymnast of all time; Carter, the first American woman to win a gold medal in shot put; and Ledecky, world record holder in multiple swimming events. Smith's striking illustrations are simple but bold and perfectly reflect his artistic background as a concept artist at Walt Disney Imagineering. Unfortunately, the actual text is not nearly as outstanding and detracts from the overall quality of the work. The narrative does not flow and is often choppy as Smith moves from one girl's story to the next. In addition, the ending feels rushed and unfinished. VERDICT While the subject matter may be in demand, this is at best an additional purchase.—Joy Poynor, formerly at Rogers Public Library, AR

School Library Journal