Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson [Hardcover]

Karen Deans (Author), Elbrite Brown (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2007 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Growing up in Harlem in the 1930s, Althea Gibson became tough and rebellious. Some said she was having trouble finding her way, until she was a teenager when she discovered she had a talent for sports. In fact, Althea was a natural at tennis, but tennis was played mostly by wealthy white people in country clubs that excluded African Americans. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Althea was not deterred. Instead, she set about becoming a barrier-breaking and world-famous athlete.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Not only was Gibson a record-breaking tennis player, but she also played an important role in breaking down racial barriers. As a child of poor sharecroppers in the volatile South, life was full of hardships, which resulted in her being sent off to live with an aunt in New York City and then to another aunt in Philadelphia. When she was nine, the family was reunited in Harlem where young Althea grew to be as tough as nails. Amazingly, she channeled energy from fighting and skipping school to a love of sports for which she had a natural talent. Winning title after title, this amazing athlete rose to fame and proved she was indeed playing to win. For the most part, the multimedia illustrations are well matched to the power and fluidity of the text, particularly in capturing the champion in action. In some spreads, the perspective is awkward, and in a few others, the backgrounds overwhelm the main figures. Overall, though, this well-written and attractive biography will be a popular addition to most collections.—Judy Chichinski, Skyline Elementary School, Tacoma, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Tennis star Althea Gibson, born to sharecroppers in South Carolina in 1927, grew up in Harlem and became a bit of a wild child, sometimes skipping school. Channeling her restless energy into sports, Gibson became a champion in the local African American tennis league before travelling south for more training and education. As an adult, she triumphed in the French Championships, at Wimbledon, and at Forest Hills. Deans clearly lays out Gibson's story, from the discrimination she faced as a black woman in mid–twentieth century America to the highlights of her tennis career. Brown's mixed-media collage illustrations bring the story to life, expressing on one double-page spread the jubilation of a tennis win and, on another, the wry sadness Gibson feels sitting in the back of a North Carolina bus. Graceful, cut-paper collage figures are at the heart of the illustrations, which often include freewheeling patterns in the backgrounds. This visually dynamic picture-book biography concludes with a chronology and short lists of recommended books and Internet sites. Phelan, Carolyn

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823419266
• ISBN-13: 978-0823419265
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 11.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Racket Sports

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Althea Comes to Life for Children, August 6, 2007

By 

Lynn R. Westergaard "Lynn Westergaard" (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson (Hardcover)

Having seen Althea Gibson play at Forest Hills in the '50's, Ms. Deans' book brings her back to life, albeit in a child-like fashion, it would also appeal to anyone who remembers what a remarkable life Ms. Gibson lived (overcoming many white stereotyped obstacles) and how remarkable she was with a racquet in hand. The illustrations by Mr. Brown are exquisite, as well.

Can't wait for the next Karen Deans' book depicting any subject she chooses.

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing to Win, June 25, 2007

By 

Mensa2 "mensa2" (Brentwood, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson (Hardcover)

This is a book for ALL Ages. I am a 'Tennis' Loving 'Grannie!, and found that this book was so entertaining, you can just visualize everything and hear the balls as they hit the racket!

I like the vernacular for which this book was written in, because it depicted a certain 'era' in her life. This books makes you laugh, as well as bring tears in ones eyes. All in all I think at least every "Grannie" should have it so that they can read it too their grand children.

~Enjoy!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational tale of a positive role model., September 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson (Hardcover)

Playing To Win: The Story of Althea Gibson is a children's picturebook biography of Althea Gibson, an African-American female tennis player from Harlem. Growing up in the 1930s, Althea discovered she had natural talent at tennis - but in that era, tennis was primarily a sport played at wealthy clubs that excluded African-Americans. But Althea refused to give up, and dedicated herself to becoming a record-setting, world-famous sportswoman. "In 1955 the U.S. government asked Althea to become a goodwill ambassador as part of a traveling tennis team. The team of two men and two women journeyed around the world playing tennis. It was the best thing that could have happened for Althea's career. It allowed her to play lots of tennis while touring Southeast Asia." An inspirational tale of a positive role model.