Book details

Macmillan Children's Book

Flying High

The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles

Who Did It First?

Author: Michelle Meadows; illustrations by Ebony Glenn

Flying High

Flying High

$11.99

About This Book

A lyrical picture book biography of Simone Biles, gymnastics champion and Olympic superstar.

Before she was a record-breaking gymnast competing on the world stage, Simone...

Page Count
40
On Sale
12/29/2020
Age Range
4-8

Book Details

A lyrical picture book biography of Simone Biles, gymnastics champion and Olympic superstar.

Before she was a record-breaking gymnast competing on the world stage, Simone Biles spent time in foster care as a young child. Nimble and boundlessly energetic, she cherished every playground and each new backyard.

When she was six years old, Simone's family took shape in a different way. Her grandparents Ron and Nellie Biles adopted Simone and her sister Adria. Ron and Nellie became their parents. Simone was also introduced to gymnastics that same year, launching a lifelong passion fueled by remarkable talent, sacrifice, and the undying support of her family.

From her athletic early childhood to the height of her success as an Olympic champion, Flying High is the story of the world's greatest gymnast from author Michelle Meadows and illustrator Ebony Glenn.

Imprint Publisher

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

ISBN

9781250819949

In The News

A 2022 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Selection

"The rhythm of the rhyming text reflects Biles’s energy and movement . . . The artwork captures the power and poise of gymnastics as well as the emotions of each scene. A good addition to the biography section and an excellent book to hand to readers always asking for gymnastics titles." —School Library Journal

"Readers will see how hard Biles worked, pushing past crushing defeat and leaving high school in order to homeschool, to rise into the Final Five of Team USA at the Olympics. . . The author should be applauded for not shying away from the more difficult parts of her backstory. Glenn’s illustrations are full of action, energy, and expressive emotion, and she captures her subject on every page." Booklist

"
The creative team behind Brave Ballerina relays the early struggles, diligent training, and eventual successes of record-breaking Olympic gymnast Simone Biles in this movement-filled picture book biography. . . [that] celebrates both Biles’s expertise and the range of the human body." —Publishers Weekly

"
Meadows emphasizes resilience, demonstrating how Biles met each failure with persistence, getting back up and trying again. Glenn’s clean line-and-color illustrations are at their best in the many vignettes of Biles in motion. One double-page spread, in which 10 separate images trace Biles doing her trademark double layout with a half-twist landing, is electrifying." —Kirkus Reviews

About the Creators

Flying High

Flying High

$11.99