Book Description

Discover the event that brings together the world's finest athletes in a spirit of peace and internationalism.

Here is an original and exciting new guide to the heroic world of the Olympic games -- from its ancient beginnings to the Sydney Games in 2000. Stunning full-color photographs of famous athletes, gold medals, colorful mascots and flaming torches provide a unique look at the greatest sports festival in the world. See: the ancient Greek site of Olympia, what an athlete wore in 1896, how a sports shoe is made, and the first Fosbuty flop. Learn: what an athlete in training needs to eat, what the Olympic symbol represents, how Smoky became the 1932 Olympic mascot, and what sports make up a modern pentathlon. Discover: how athlete are timed within fractions of a second, what special materials are used to make a modern swimsuit, what sports were included in the ancient Olympic Games, who has won the most Olympic medals, and much, much more! ... Read more

Book Description

"Here is the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin during which the German Nazi Party attempted to turn the Games into a propaganda vehicle for its own political agenda.This fascinating book, based on an exhibit mounted by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, tells the story of those infamous Olympics.Profiled are the organizers, the politicians, and most important, the athletes: those who boycotted the games, those who were banned from participating, and those who competed.All these riveting tales are vividly recounted by Susan Bachrach, author of Tell Them We Remember.Using intriguing sidebars and evocative photographs, she brings this iconic event to life in a book that not only will be read avidly this summer as the 2000 Olympic Games take place, but also for years to come." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nazi Olymics
The book I read on the Holocaust was called The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 by Susan D. Bachrach. This book is about the Olympics held by the Nazis. In this book, it tells about the steps Nazis took to hold the Olympics. It also tells you where exactly the Olympics were held. This book is not a book that actually tells a story, it is a factual book that tells facts and gives you images to describe the facts. Adolf Hitler was head of Germany's Government. In 1931, Berlin was chosen as the site of the 1936 Summer Games. After World War I, Hitler and the Nazi promised a "new Germany" that would give to those many Germans who were fearful to the future. Soon Germany was turned into a police state for "Aryans only". As the year of 1936 came closer and closer with the Olympics, people questioned whether the Olympics should be held in a country whose ideology ran counter to the ideals that inspired to the Games. Many participants questioned the same thing.

Absolutely wonderful!
This large and attractive book tells the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin. Many Americans have heard of them, though their knowledge is limited to the fact that Jesse Owens, an African-American, won four gold medals, humiliating Adolf Hitler. This book tells the story of those Olympics from the choice of venue in 1931, through the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, the Nazi racial policies, the movement to boycott the games, the Olympics themselves, and finally on to the aftermath of the games and the Holocaust. Following the texts are some wonderful appendices on the chronology of the games, statistics on the 1896-1936 Olympics, and a list of nations participating in the 1936 Olympics. But don't stop there! After the index is collection of in-color reproductions of posters and artwork connected with the 1936 Olympics.

This book is absolutely wonderful! It covers everything you ever wanted to know about the 1936 Olympics, and even quite a few things you never would have thought to ask. Although this book is placed under Ages 9-12 category, it is very informative, and a must-read for anyone who wants to understand those games. I highly recommend this book!

High quality writing, graphics and layout
The most striking feature about The Nazi Olypmics is the layout. Photos from the Library of Congress, National Holocaust museum, and a variety of personal and corporate collections are nicely arranged. The illustrations emphasize that Nazi propaganda convinced participating countries that the 1936 Olympic Games were going to adhere to the Olympic code and be inclusive of all peoples and faiths. Magazine covers, newspaper headlines, political cartoons, and pictures of segregated Nazi and Jewish sports clubs reinforce the point that Nazi ideology was (and still is) directly opposite the Olympic code, in spite of Hilter's assurances to the contrary.
Occasionally, the graphics take over and result in a two page spread of captioned photos that detract from the text but in most cases, the captions are brief or enclosed in a separate boxed section of information. The writing is clear, but the subject matter is recommended for grades 6 and up. Rachbach places the Olympics in perspective of the political upheaval and the Nazi dictatorship that ensued, rather than relating just a history of the Olympics, or a rundown on record breakers and medallists (these details are included, but always admirably within the historical context).
Rachbach not only focuses on the prejudice in Germany; she also informs the reader of the racism against African-Americans and anti-Semitism on the homefront. The coverage of boycotts (both potential and realized) of athletes and countries is excellent. The author notes the positives that came out of the Olympic games, such as the new record set by Jesse Owens, and the quality of the athletic facilities in Berlin.
Two appendices include a list of locations of the summer games from 1896-1936, and a list of participating countries in the 1936 Berlin games. The chronology, index, and suggestions for further reading were excellent. Although published to capture the audience of the 2000 Games, the 1936 Games are an interesting topic and will be a good resource for students studying the Holocaust who want to go beyond concentration camps and battles, or a tool for teaching about anti-Semitism and other prejudices. ... Read more

Book Description

Kristi shares the many obstacles and concerns she and her family have faced in their lives--from her family's difficulties as Japanese-Americans during World War II to her own struggle dwith an earyl childhood foot deformity. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It's like looking at someone's scrapbook
Very fun "scrap book" from figure skating's greatest!Kristishares her life from childhood to present.What I really like is how shetalks of her Japanese heritage.Very recommended.

How to make a young person happy
I presented Kristi's book to the nine-year-old daughter of a friend ofmine, and the look on her face was one of pure joy.Enough said. ... Read more

Book Description

"Julie Foudy knows what it's lie to wear gold: She has first place medals from the Women's World Cup 1991, the 1996 Olympic Games, and the Women's World Cup 1999.And she knows what it's like to play a grueling soccer match in front of thousands of screaming fans and to sign autographs for hours after the match is done.But that wasn't always the case, for only in recent years has women's soccer become a widely played and watched event.Julie Foudy's story is not just about great soccer games; it's about how one woman's determination helped change an obscure sport into one with millions of fans." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Foudy is the best!!!
This book takes a look at one of the greatest female soccer players in the world. It gives an over-view of her life as she grew up and when she joined the Women's National Team. The book also has some very nice photos of Foudy in action. This is a good book for any fan of women's soccer and Julie Foudy. ... Read more

Book Description

The ancient Greeks were famous for their love of competition and athleticism. Their most important sporting festival, held at Olympia and honoring Zeus, became the inspiration for our modern Olympic games. It was open to the citizens of every Greek polis, and became so important, that all warfare had to be suspended for its duration.

This book runs through the entire five-day session of the ancient games. The athletes' training and the actual sporting events--some familiar, some quite strange to the modern reader--are described in vivid detail and illustrated with both classical art from the collections of the British Museum and photographs of the modern Games. Day Two, for instance, starts with morning activities (a procession into the hippodrome, chariot and horse races), followed by the afternoon pentathlon events (discus, javelin, running, jumping, and wrestling), and ends with the evening celebration (winners' parade, victory hymns, feast, and revels). Supplemental sidebars--such as Homer's description of Odysseus' triumphant discus throw and an explanation of why athletes and trainers had to appear naked--add lively, colorful detail. Commentary on the modern Games and a running comparison of modern and ancient athletic events is scattered throughout the book, providing an important historical perspective on today's Olympics. Three supplemental chapters--"Women at the Olympics," "Games Elsewhere in Greece," and "The End of the Olympics"--complete this fascinating look at ancient Greek customs, competitive spirit, and character. ... Read more

Book Description

I honestly don't know what battles I'm going to face next, only that I have the spirit and the will to face anything and fight for my sport and for what I believe is right. I'll give 110 percent and still dig down deeper for more.

Apolo Anton Ohno won both a gold and a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Games and became an instant hero. But his Olympic victory represents just one moment of his incredible, and continuing journey.

From an early age, his father, Yuki, recognized Apolo's natural abilities and made it his mission to help his son live up to his potential. But getting Apolo to follow through on his opportunities wasn't always easy. Like many kids, Apolo struggled to balance his energetic and fiercely competitive nature with his desire for independence and freedom.

And even as he succeeded on the ice, he felt the loneliness that comes with being at the top. Amid the pain, the fear, the uncertainty, Apolo asked himself again and again, Why am I doing this? And the answer came to him: He truly loved to skate. So with laser-sharp focus he pursued his number-one goal: to become a great athlete.

From his personal struggles to his unwavering commitment and ambition, Apolo Anton Ohno is a true example of courage. He has battled his personal demons, toppled physical barriers, and clawed his way to the top -- but even now he does not rest. Always, he looks within himself to hear his strongest critic, to face his fiercest competitor. And always, he continues to strive to be the best -- not just for his team, not just for his country -- but also for himself. And that is what makes Apolo Anton Ohno a true champion. This is his story. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Apolo sets another record -- this time for a great book
Apolo Anton Ohno is a great speedskater . . . and after reading the book I find that he has a pretty good potential for a writer too. After watching him in the 2002 Winter Olympics, I was intrigued with his story. This gives me something elso to build off of as well. He sets a good example for kids because he is a true good sport -- always with a "That's the sport. What happens happens" attitude. A great read.

a rare & satisfying memoir
Spare & lean, this young man tells his story with aplomb & humor. Nancy Ann Richardson has not tampered with his way of expressing himself, allowing Apolo Anton Ohno to shine on through.

A JOURNEY is as much a biography of a modern, unassuming hero as it is a tribute to a father's job well done.

A must-read for anyone with a hunger for excellence, & a clue about self-awareness. A splendid read in which we catch glimpses of how one person, with many strikes against him, found something to pull him out of a typical city-bound boyhood, out of the terrible teens, out of obscurity to be the best at what he does.

Apolo Anton Ohno can also add storyteller/author to his accomplishments. Highly recommended.

Disappointed
I was incredibly impressed by Apolo during the Olympics - not only is he an amazing athlete to watch in one of the best sports in the Olympics, but he was also gracious, seemed to know the real meaning of the games - participation and being in the moment as opposed to winning - and his celebration upon winning the silver moved me to tears but after reading the book, I didn't get the same feeling and I admit it left me disappointed.The book was not very well written and I half expected it to be since he had a co-author.Apolo seems to take himself a bit too seriously.He dwells on leaving home at age 14, something many kids do to go to boarding school and the like and I don't hear them whining.He also failed to take responsibility for his own health and injuries and appears to blame others for that.Yes, he was young, but it is clear he didn't have a hard time defying his father, which leads me to believe he was quite capable of speaking up for himself. I also didn't find his defense of the race fixing scandal very persuasive.In his interviews, Apolo seems very nice, unassuming and gracious but in the book he just didn't come across that way.Maybe he had too much of an axe to grind against his coaches and his accusers.I think he will regret publishing this.Sometimes it is best to write down how you feel and then put it away until you have come to terms with your feelings and then decide if you really want to share them or not and my guess is, in a few years, Apolo will regret sharing many of the ones he put in this book.

Great book!
This quote from Chapter 2: "It's strange how a single, important moment in one person's life might not even be memorable to another." is exactly how I felt when I met him! It meant so much to me, yet he probably has no memory of it. Apolo changed my life, and I bet a lot of his fans can say that. This is a great first book that he wrote and I hope later on he will soon write more! WE LOVE YOU APOLO!! <3
If you don't already have it, I recommend you go out and buy it right now! You won't regret it!

WOW!
My best friend and I are possibly the biggest fans ever of apolo anton ohno. he ROCKS (plus, he's really cute AND he's from Seattle!) so when we found out that he was writing an autobiography, we could not wait for it to come out. well, now i have my copy and have read it over and over again. It's beautifully written and so deep! he already has lived an "amazing life", he doesn't need to worry about that! i hope that this will help explain things better and prove what a geat role model he is. BUY IT, PEOPLES! I'M NOT KIDDING! ... Read more

Book Description

Figure skaters are jumping higher, skating faster and pushing artistic and technical boundaries like never before. Figure skating is one of the most popular events at the Olympic Games, with millions more watching on television around the world.

Everyone who watches the events and follows the champions will welcome this book, which contains the very best breathtaking photographs taken at ringside at the world's greatest competitions including the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics.

Complete with detailed profiles, statistics and the exciting stories behind today's figure skating stars, Figure Skating Champions is an exciting look at today's biggest figure skating stars including:
- Michelle Kwan
- Sarah Hughes
- Elvis Stojko
- Todd Eldredge
- Jamie Salé and David Pelletier ... Read more

Book Description

Created by an award-winning author-and-illustrator team, Olympics sets the stage with facts, articles, and essential background information across the complete range of Olympic summer competition. Every aspect of the summer games is covered, including their history, the bidding process, training and qualifying, and life in the Olympic Village. Coverage of the events themselves captures the exhilaration of competing at the pinnacle of world sports&mdash;from explosive sprints and the grace of gymnastics to the proving grounds of endurance, the marathon and triathlon, and everything in between.

In addition, special spreads celebrate the great summer Olympics, from Stockholm 1912 to the record-breaking games of Sydney 2000. Olympic achievements are highlighted at the back of the book, bringing to life the great rivalries and honoring those competitors who battled adversity to shine on the world"s stage. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The ideal companion for young readers
Superbly enhanced on every page with outstanding digital illustrations and visually impressive full color action photography, Clive Gifford's Summer Olympics: The Definitive Guide To The World's Greatest Sports Celebration is a complete survey and introduction to every Summer Olympics event. Also included is a great deal of background information on the training routines of top athletes of today and great athletic competitive rivalries of the past. Summer Olympics is the ideal companion for young readers with its showcasing of the world pinnacle for international sporting events and competitions. ... Read more

Book Description

All over the world, people are getting ready for the Olympics. Runners are running, swimmers are swimming, and teams are learning to work together. Meanwhile, workers are preparing for a spectacle that million of fans will watch. All of the fun and excitement of the Olympics is captured by B. G. Hennessy's appealing text and Michael Chesworth's bright illustrations in this delightful picture book.

"This informative picture books is a lively introduction [to the Olympics]." --Booklist ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gymnastics! Swimming! The marathon! From the fields of ancient Greece to the high-tech stadiums of today, Olympic athletes have performed amazing feats of strength and speed.Now Robert Crowther, master pop-up artist, makes tiny athletes perform at your command.Full of fascinating facts and sensational statistics --not to mention fun flaps, pleasing pull-tabs and other great gadgets. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

History of the Olympics for kids!
My nephews loved this book, looking for the bear, crocodile and giraffe in the crowds (Waldo, too!), to the Olympic medal at the end. ... Read more

Book Description

They've set their sights on Sydney in 2000!

During the Atlanta Summer Olympics, Americans were transfixed by the Magnificent Seven, the young women who led the United States to its first-ever team gold medal in gymnastics. Since that underdog win, U.S. gymnasts have continued to succeed in international competition, performing routines with power and grace. Just in time for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, here's the scoop on the American gymnasts who are front-runners in the race for Olympic gold, including:

* Kristen Maloney, the two-time national champion who even has an uneven-bars move, "The Maloney," named after her

* Vanessa Atler, a three-time U.S. gold medalist and 1998 Goodwill Games champion, who has been called the new Mary Lou Retton

* Elise Ray, the two-time U.S. gold medalist whose spectacular performance at the 1999 World Championships exceeded all expectations

Plus Morgan White, Jennie Thompson, updates on 1996 gold medalists Dominique Moceanu and Amy Chow, and many more Olympic hopefuls! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gold medal dreams that sadly never happened
This book was written just before the 2000 Olympics and is full of prognostications of an American women's gold-medal sweep in Sydney to rival their brilliant coupe of the 1996 Atlanta games; sadly, the American women's team that competed in the Sydney Olympics was a rather lackluster group: Not one gymnast made it to the event finals, and the highest individual ranking garnered was Elise Ray's 13th-place finish. It was the most dismal Olympic showing since the 1970's, and you wondered what had happened between 1996 and 2000 that caused the American women to completely fall flat.

This is written in an interesting slant for children, but some of the gymnasts' biographies, even if they are true, are rather invidious and would cause a lot of depression in a young athlete: most of the gymnasts started gymnastics at the age of 3, hit the ground running, and were coached by top-notch coaches who flew gleefully out of retirement upon seeing these girls perform. It must make a young gymnast who hasn't attained such lofty heights what she is doing wrong.

The biggest drawback about this book is the color photos. I don't know if it was poor camera angles, an overall lack of bad form on the gymnasts' part, or both, but these are the worst gymnastics photos I've ever seen. ... Read more