Girl Running

* "A bright salutation of a story, with one determined woman at its center."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Archer's vibrant mixed-media and collage art portrays a variety of settings, seasons, and situations; a nice touch is the bottom-of-the-page border marking the miles as we follow Bobbi's progress along the marathon route."—The Horn Book

Gr 2-4—Bobbi Gibb found joy in running before it was an activity women were encouraged or even allowed to participate in. Faced with enormous obstacles (including having available running gear), Gibb went on to become the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon, blazing the trail for thousands of women to come. The story does justice to Gibb's dream, although additional contextual details may have helped foster a richer understanding. For example, there is no mention of the year during which the story takes place (1966) until the book's afterword. Gibb's age is also unclear. On the very first page she is an adolescent, but the work soon transitions into her running across the country and entering the Boston Marathon as an adult without clear indication that many years have passed. The lush collage-style illustrations are a highlight, specifically the clever mile marker and elevation indicators which stretch across the pages as Gibb runs the race. The closing image nicely incorporates the names of other female marathoners as a tribute. VERDICT An inspiring addition to picture book biography collections.—Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State University, OH

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Pimentel introduces Bobbi Gibb, who in 1966 became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, in an affectionate portrait informed by interviews with Gibb herself. In textured collages, Archer creates a cozy community of autumn leaves, spring fields, and quaint rooftops, against which Gibb trains for the marathon. Disappointed after receiving a letter denying her entry to the race ("Women are not physiologically able to run twenty-six miles and furthermore the rules do not allow it"), she disguises herself with a hooded sweatshirt and runs the marathon anyway. Concentric circles radiate from Gibb's feet some 20 miles in: "Bobbi learns the hard way that you should not race in new shoes," Pimentel writes; Gibb finishes the race to acclaim, opening the door for other dedicated women runners. A triumphant story of an athlete and spirited individual. Ages 5-8. Author's agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. (Feb.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"The illustrations are brightly colored collages that fill the pages from edge to edge. . . . The artist has included mile markers and notes about the course elevation to help the reader understand how difficult the marathon is. This simple story will leave all types of readers cheering for a woman who believed in herself and worked hard to make her dreams come true. This would be a great addition to a story time about sports or successful women."—School Library Connection

"Pimentel delivers a sharply focused, hard-pounding narrative, and Archer supplies inventive oil and collage artwork worthy of the text. . . . An afterword on Gibb's subsequent marathons, notes on the use of her maiden name and on quotation sources, and a selected bibliography are appended, and the final spread featuring the names of women marathon winners gives viewers leads on other stories worth investigating."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books