Friday, July 27, 2018

SISTERS AND CHAMPIONS: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Howard Bryant / Book Review #VenusWilliams #SerenaWilliams #SistersAndChampions


By: Howard Bryant
Illustrated by: Floyd Cooper
Published by: Penguin Kids
Released on: May 29th, 2018
Ages: 4 & up
Purchase from: Penguin | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Owlets 
MKs is a PRH partner; this book was received in exchange for my honest review

An inspiring picture book sports biography about two of the greatest female tennis players of all-time! Venus and Serena Williams: Best friends. Sisters. Champions.

Everyone knows the names Venus & Serena Williams. They’ve become synonymous with championships, hard work, and with shaking up the tennis world. This inspirational true story, written by award-winning sports journalist, Howard Bryant, and brought to beautiful life by Coretta Scott Kind Award and Honor winner, Floyd Cooper, details the sisters’ journey from a barely-there tennis court in Compton, CA, to Olympic gold medals and becoming the #1 ranked women in the sport of tennis. Here is a worthy ode to Venus and Serena Williams, the incredible sister duo who will go down in history as two of the greatest athletes of all time.


An inspiring picture book biography that focuses on the incredibly relationship the Williams sisters have, and the important role their father has always played in their lives. Serena and Venus Williams have the kind of relationship that has bonded them since they were little, both on and off the courts. One of the inspiring things about their story is seeing how these two girls have always supported each other, worked incredibly hard both on and off the courts, and made their dreams possible. Even when other people said it wouldn't happen. 

One of the parts of the story I loved learning about, was how their father never doubted for a moment, that both of this girls would be tennis stars. Even from their young ages. It didn't matter that they grew up in Compton, or that they didn't have money, or that other people said black people didn't play tennis. He knew, and he didn't lose sight of that. I also love the quote, "but the sisters' mom and ad said differently. They said the sisters were made of special brown skin, and wonderful eyes, of big smiles, and bigger hearts and -when it came to tennis-a kind of magic. "Just wait," their day would say. "You'll see.""

This is book is one so many young kids will be read, and be inspired by. I felt inspired reading it. I've always admired by the Williams sisters have done. They broke the mold with the sport, they proved their haters wrong, they didn't give up, and they made tough girls look beautiful. They showed the world the incredible relationship they have as sisters. Theirs is one incredible story. This book is definitely worth adding to your home, classroom, and/or school library. 

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~