Wilma Rudolph

This book tells, as it says on the tin, the story of Wilma Rudolph. Not for the first time, this book series introduces me to a famous person I never heard about before, which is in one part due to not living in the US, and in another part due to my disinterest in sports. So it seems my reading fills some important knowledge gaps, and as I stated before, this series - little people, big dreams - is a way to have fun while being educated.

The first pages give you a story about a child who wanted something and persisted. In this case, Wilma wanted to run like a gazelle, but had polio and had to wear a leg brace for years.
After the story, you find a timeline that gives straight facts, and suggestions for further reading.

I really like the diversity of the picks, not only in terms of ethnicity of the people picked, but also the field for which they're famous: Athletes like in this case, activists like Gandhi, artists like Astrid Lindgren, scientists like Einstein.
Will continue with this fun series!

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really love this series of books. Super educational, sweet illustrations, and the coolest people. The life of Wilma Randolph truly is inspiring. Love being able to read these powerful stories with my children!

5 girl power stars!

This is a perfect book for little ones about this incredible woman athlete! Inspire your little ones to reach for their dreams no matter what! Wilma Rudolph faced insurmountable hurtles: gender, race, and disability! And still she achieved her dreams!

YOU need this book to teach your littles that they can do anything! No matter what life throws at you, you can succeed with hard work! YOU need this book to inspire and empower the girls in your life!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This story is just inspirational for all kids, but specially kids that might be struggling with some condition.

She was resilient, but also had a loving family that supported her, and instead of giving up on her dreams they encouraged and helped her over one difficulty.

As always loving the illustrations!

This series is always a joy to read, its a really nice introduction to well known people for little children. Of course the plot is always a little bit fast but thats to be expected and its totally understandable.
This book here is about Wilma Rudolph, a girl who proved her strength and achieved so much. She contracted polio when she was just a child and she had to wear a leg brace, but thanks to the help and care of her loving and big family she was able to pull through and not only she started walking again, but she started training in sprinting. This all led to her winning three gold medals at the Olympics!
She's the perfect example of what good will, inner strength and a loving family are able to achieve and I'm sure that she could be someone children can look up to.

Wilma Rudolph is the newest to be spotlighted in this latest edition of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. This series is such a delight and the perfect way to educate not just kids but everyone about historic and cultural icons.

Rudolph was an American sprinter who became a sports icon following her successes at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. This book portrays Rudolph contracting polio, to her facing segregation, and to her eventual record breaking performance at the 1960 Olympics when she became the first when to win three gold medals!

Amelia Flower illustrates this installment and does an amazing job. Flower's' art style was so captivating and her art definitely further helped tell Rudolph's' story. This installment easily became one of my favorite in the series. I love collecting these books and am so thrilled to add this one to the rest of my collection.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Do you need some inspiration that anything is possible? Then this is the book to read with your kiddo! Wilma Rudolph overcame her circumstances because she set her mind to what she wanted to achieve and did not give up, along with the support of her family. Additionally, she was an advocate for equality for equal treatment of all people, regardless of race. Her story also exemplifies that women are capable of achieving greatness in sports that were thought to be for males only. Overall, reading this book it’s hard not to feel that you can take on anything I order to reach your dreams.

Received galley for unbiased review.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The My First Little People, Big Dreams series provides informative and inspirational biographies about people who left a mark on this earth, no matter what difficulties they have encountered.
These stories are very short, but thats because theyre books for children, so its totally understandable.
I think they are a very smart and wonderful way to introduce little children to such important figures.
This here is tells the story of Wilma Rudolph, the remarkable sprinter and Olympic champion.
Her strenght and determination are really important and good examples for everyone. She didn't let polio stop her and thanks to her caring family and her own strenght, she achieved a lot.

Holy determination, Batman! I honestly didn't know much about Wilma Rudolph other than that she was an athlete. This little book showed me how she struggled with illness, faced segregation, played basketball, and made records in the Olympics. She was proof at the time that girls could do anything and that it was important to stand up for things that you believe in.

Succinct story about the life of Wilma Rudolph with important emphasis on family, determination, and obstacles faced by women, especially women of color. Uplifting story for families to read together.

This was a pretty solid entry into this series! It does kind of gloss over the racism behind the bus segregation that is mentioned, but the author explains it more in the little biography at the end of the book which I appreciated.

I continue to love reading this series of famous people and their biographies for children. Wilma Rudolph is such an inspiration to all young people and even older people. She had gotten polio at a young age, but she worked hard to get better and then when the braces came off she became a great athlete and even made to the Olympics.

This title is a board book in the Little People, Big Dreams series.  As is always true of Ms. Sanchez Vegara's books, this title is beautifully illustrated and inspiring as it tells the story of athlete Wilma Rudolph. Young children will learn the amazing story of this girl with 19 siblings who went on to achieve great athletic feats, despite having been diagnosed with polio at the age of four.


In telling Wilma's story, the author honestly and sensitively addresses the racism of Ms. Rudolph's era.  In acknowledging this the author opens the way for a good discussion with a child.


Get these books for a child you know; they will learn that life is full of amazing opportunities and will, hopefully, see that they can set their sights high. They will see too that obstacles can be overcome.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

All three of my children loved this story, along with the beautiful illustrations. I thought it told Wilma’s story in an inspiring light for little ones. I could also use this in my writing curriculum with my students when we talk about vignette memoirs or our research pieces. Overall this was a wonderful story about the great Wilma Rudolph!

Wilma Rudolph was born into a large family in the southern US during segregation. She was diagnosed with polio and her family feared she would never walk again without leg braces. She overcame polio to become an Olympian and was the first woman to win three gold medals. She inspired girls everywhere to run.

This book describes Wilma Rudolph’s life in detail, but in easily understood language for children. The illustrations are well done.

As an educator, I would recommend this book to children to see that they can do big things. Everyone can make a difference. People can and do overcome limitations early in life.

Thank you to the Quarto Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My daughter really enjoyed this book. She says: I didn't like that she got sick a lot when she was little. I was a little sad that she had a leg brace but I was happy that she started to run and her dream came true to be able to run like a gazelle.

I think this book is a good introduction to little ones about famous people without all the sad stuff being a big focus. I also did not know she was the 20th of 22 kids in the family!

Another good book of the series .A little girl fighting all the odds to become a champion.
An inspiring story of woman of color.

This beautiful addition to the brilliant series tells the incredible story of Wilma Rudolph, olympian and activist. The book is entertaining, informative, and empowering-- its readers will walk away feeling they can take on the world and they too can achieve greatness.

I love the little people, big dreams books. They are well written, tell a delightful true story in an age appropriate way and have beautiful illustrations.

The Wilma Rudolph book might just be my overall favorite. Her story is so incredibly inspiring and was told in such an exciting way. I love the real photographs in the back! I recommend this and all of the books in this series for anyone who reads to children!

The publisher made a copy of this book available on Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions here are my honest review.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another inspiring biographical storybook from this author. I had not heard of Wilma before so it was enlightening to read about such a courageous athlete. She shows that running and winning isn't just for boys.

This is such a great series of books. I love that this story is about an inspiring black woman. We need more representation in this world and this book really does take representation one step further. There are so many inspiring women in history, and Wilma Rudolph is one of them. The text is simple, it’s easy to understand, and the illustrations are bright and colourful. A fantastic book for all children to learn more about our beautifully diverse world.

Another great book from the Little People Big Dreams series. This book on Wilma Rudolph focuses on the very adult themes of gender, race and disability in an accessible way for young children. My 5 year old son enjoyed it and the content was inspiring for his young mind!

Please note we are not permitted to write bookseller reviews on waterstones.com whilst on furlough. As such, I will post this review on our website on my return to work.

This series keeps adding wonderful titles. This is a really important title and shows the importance of self belief in the face of adversity. As always this is a beautifully illustrated creation. Loved this!

I love the Little People, Big Dreams series and this latest book about Wilma Rudolph is no exception. I have to admit I had never heard of her before. Wilma was an Olympic runner and one of 22 siblings. She contracted Polio as a child (like my own Dad) and struggled to walk. She overcame her health problems and went on to become a Gold medal Olympian during the 1960's. This book contains lovely illustrations and is an inspirational story for children. I received my digital copy from NetGalley and the publishers.

This is another great book to add to the Little People, Big Dreams collection!

I love this series as they are perfect introductions to young people about some of the most famous and influential people from our past and present and are also a reminder about how these people have also changed our history.

5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended and can't wait for my daughter to get involved in the series and for me this book is a much for any children's library

Perhaps my favorite in this series! An inspirational brief biography about Olympic gold medalist runner, Wilma Rudolph. Rudolph overcame so many physical challenges as a child with the devotion of her family. I loved learning about her life and family. Perfect for children of all ages.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Wilma Rudolph is someone I had never heard of but with the Little People, Big Dreams books always being so inspiring I was intrigued to find out more about her. The story shows Wilma's life as she spends childhood with a leg brace to an adult when she defies everything and becomes an Olympic sprinter.

I think this is one of my favourite books of the series as she shows how you shouldn't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving your dreams. Even through a difficult childhood she still showed strength and determination to try and achieve her goal. I liked how we got to see just how supportive her family were as I think this shows how important they are and how much the family cares.

The illustrations are lovely and show how her life changed beautifully with the cartoon style images. The timeline at the end of the book is great to see how life was for Wilma and learn a bit more. This is a brilliant and inspiring read to show children that they should never give up whatever challenges they have to overcome.

Yet another hit from this beautiful series, I loved learning and teaching my children more about this inspiring woman . I was blown away to learn about the care her family took to help her recover and to see her determination shine through on the page. This is one that will stay with me and is definitely one I will be gifting to my friends with determined little ones of their own!

The Little, People Big Dreams series happens to be one of my favorite biography sources for elementary school children. The diversity of the books, the clear text, and engaging illustrations make these a good springboard for non-fiction reading.

Wilma Rudolph was an amazing woman who overcame a lot of health issues to run successfully at the Olympics. Despite racism and her "being a girl" she became an inspiration to many.

Wilma Rudolph won a gold medal in the Olympics. But she did more than that. She overcame polio as a child and dreamed of running faster than a gazelle. She also understood the importance of unity in a racial divide. Her story is inspiring for both young and adult readers.

A Special Thank You to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

This brief and inspiring picture book biography shares the story of how Wilma Rudolph overcame early physical setbacks to become an amazing sprinter. I enjoyed reading this well-illustrated book, and appreciate the credit that it gives to her family for supporting her. Even though she overcame very difficult obstacles, her gigantic family's investment in fighting for her health and her ability to walk again after polio is essential to the story, and I appreciate how this book celebrates the impact of the people who loved her instead of making it sound like she went it alone.

This is a great introduction to Wilma Rudolph's life and pioneering career, and the author's note includes additional details and photos from her life. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in this sports figure in particular, and to people who enjoy meaningful stories about people who have overcome significant obstacles.

Wima Rudolph, the book from Little People, Big Dream series is about an Olympic athelete. Despite the odds in her life, she kept on going. This a book teaches us to have faith and strong will to make our dreams come true. A must read book for children.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Quatro Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really liked this book about Wilma Rudolph. I admit I had no idea who she was before this book, so I enjoyed learning about her achievements and the adversities she overcame to achieve them.

Wilma Rudolph has been one of my personal heroes since I was a girl of ten, so one can imagine my excitement at seeing her face being added to the lineup of a popular and well-loved series, Little People, BIG DREAMS. Though it is hard to tell her story briefly, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara captures the important moments in Wilma's life that prove her tenacity. The book explains her struggles with childhood illness and segregation and paints a beautiful picture of the unconditional love of family. Wilma was an overcomer! I need two copies: one for my house and one for my classroom!

This was a quick and informative read about an athlete I didn’t know much about. I enjoyed the overall message of perseverance, and think this would be a great book to teach children about overcoming obstacles.

This biography for kids is about Wilma Rudolph, an amazing athlete who had polio as a child. She overcame physical obstacles and prejudice to become an Olympic gold medalist.

The Little People, Big Dreams series is a great series for young children to learn about the great people who came before them. If you have children or grandchildren who want to learn about the past, you will like this series.

I received a free copy of this book from Frances Lincoln Children's Books and the authors via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

This book is just not as good as some others in this series. I really like the diversity and the illustration style. Thank you to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

What a stunning book. Both beautiful illustrations and an interesting story. As part of set it would be lovely to highlight less well known stories of people who have overcome challenges

A great gift for a child. It would be a lovely keep sake for a birthday or similar

My little girl and I love the “Little People, Big Dreams” series, and I often learn as much as she does! I was therefore quite excited to see one on someone that I hadn’t really heard of before. Wilma’s story is certainly inspiring, and is a great demonstration of what can be achieved with determination and the support of a loving family. As ever, the artwork was fantastic and the story was just right for my daughter in terms of pace and complexity.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the arc to review.

I really love this book series, and I can't wait to see which stories it will tell next! I think it does a wonderful job of showing the racial issues of the time without letting it overpower the story and Wilma Rudolph's achievements. I also really enjoy the last few pages in the books in this series with the timeline and actual pictures. These books should be in every classroom, so that young children or English learners can read them!

We really like the Little People, Big Dreams series of picture books to help the kids learn about important people in history. This new installment in the series focuses on Olympian Wilma Rudolph.

Wilma was born in 1940 and was one of 22 siblings in her family. Wow! At a young age she was diagnosed with polio and had to walk with a leg brace. Once she reached high school the brace was removed and Wilma literally hit the ground running. She became a star athlete and ended up competing as a sprinter in the Olympics where she earned a medal!

This is definitely a story that will inspire the kids. Once again, I highly recommend a Little People, Big Dreams book. They have just the right amount of info for young children.

This book is another great addition to this series! I hadn't really known who Wilma Rudolph was before reading this book and now I'm so glad I did! What a great story with fantastic pictures to back it up!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

So far I've enjoyed all the titles in the Little People, Big Dreams series and this is no exception. As usual, it's engaging, and informative with excellent illustrations. Will purchase for my library.

I loved this little book. The drawings are amazing and the illustrator does a very good job at showing the discrimination and segregation of black people, especially in the scene where Wilma goes to the hospital.

This is definitely a picture book that I will buy for my students and will promote in the library.

Great nonfiction book! Book at the age level that are nonfiction are hard to find. This is well written and fantastic for the younger aged readers!

What a beautiful story about a heroic female! She is such a role model for all people, but especially girls, and girls with disabilities. I have always looked up to her achievements, with my own disabilities I have overcome. We truly loved reading this story together and will definitely return to read it many more times! Another set of beautiful illustrations, for this series.

The Little People, Big Dreams series is my guilty pleasure. Not only is it super adorable but it's also incredibly educational! A lot of the people featured in these books I have seen or heard about before, but never read up on their history.

Wilma Rudolph is a famous athlete who contracted polio as a child. She had many siblings growing up, and also just has one of the most incredible stories you'll ever hear. Perseverance is incredible!

I liked the illustrations in this book better than a couple of the others in this series. They are cute and cartoon-y.

Whether you are an adult or child, these books can be enjoyable! They are the perfect, little non-fiction read to spice up story time or bedtime reading! I highly recommend grabbing these books.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I absolutely adore this collection of books, making famous history so accessible for young readers. In this case, Wilma Rudolph and her struggles through recovery and segregation.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This new title in the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the story of the magnificent athlete Wilma Rudolph. The illustrations are charming, as always, and there's good back matter that gives a bit more information on Wilma's life.

Absolutely wonderful! If I were an elementary teacher, I would have this book (and others like it) on my shelves. My 2 year old absolutely loved reading it. He would actually ask for Wilma. This was a joy to read.

Lovely addition to the Little People Big Dreams series, this book chronicles Wilma Rudolph’s life and the trials and tribulations that she overcame.

An excellent nonfiction title that will entertain readers and educate them on very important historical person that inspired our world to try to achieve more.

'Wilma Rudolph' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Amelia Flower is an picture book about an athlete who overcame diversity.

Wilma Rudolph was born into a home with 19 siblings in the segregated South. As a child, she contracted polio, and overcame it with the help of her family. From there, she played basketball and ran fast. So fast she won three gold medals in the Olympics in Rome.

Overcoming adversity is a theme in a lot of these stories, and this is no different, but it might be clearer for young readers than some. The art in this one shines as well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from The Quarto Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

I liked this book a lot. I knew very little about the remarkable life of Wilma Rudolph before reading this book. What amazed me the most was her incredible family. She grew up in a huge family that loved her endlessly. Without her family, she surely wouldn't have become multi-award winning Olympian. Just as other books in this series, Wilma Rudolph is a great read aloud for teachers and parents.