  | Kid Olympians : winter : true tales of childhood from champions and game changers (Kid Legends) Author: Stevenson, Robin | |
| Price: $20.48 | ||
Summary:
Childhood biographies of sixteen athletes who have competed in the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
| Illustrator: | Steinfeld, Allison |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (10/15/25)
School Library Journal (11/01/25)
Booklist (05/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 11/01/2025 Gr 4–8—This collective biography presents the inspirational stories of 16 Winter Olympic athletes. The author includes a variety of diverse athletes, such as para-Nordic skier Cindy Ouellet, snowboarder Chloe Kim, Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, speed skater Shani Davis, and ice skater Nathan Chen. Readers will learn about the many challenges that Olympic athletes face and the support structures that help them reach the pinnacle of their sport. Each athlete's story reflects the common themes of determination, resilience, and family support. These athletes have had to overcome obstacles, such as homophobia, racism, mental health issues as well as physical injuries. The author also describes the impact that Olympic training has on the athletes' families who often must make financial sacrifices and relocate their homes. By interspersing the narration with direct quotes, the highly accessible text reveals the mindsets of the athletes at different points in their careers. Most pages include engaging graphic novel–style illustrations with black line drawings and bold colors. The book also features a bibliography with print and digital sources. VERDICT A wonderful addition to libraries serving upper elementary and middle school patrons who enjoy sports biographies.—Maile Steimer - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 05/01/2026 The latest installment in the Kid Legends series is devoted to the childhood experiences of famous Winter Olympics competitors. Stevenson focuses on athletes from the last 30 years, including the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, so young readers can learn about an athlete and then watch their achievements online. The stories are organized into categories, but certain threads connect them all: many of the athletes were children when they began training and competing in their sports; many came from financially challenging backgrounds, with family members making significant sacrifices toward the athlete’s dreams of Olympic success; and several of these champs use their status as Winter Olympians to speak up for marginalized people. Corresponding illustrations have a cartoon feel and use humor to push personal narratives forward at a steady pace. The result is an inspiring collective biography that will engage young readers with big dreams. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
