Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still (Hardcover)

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still By Karlin Gray, Christine Davenier (Illustrator) Cover Image

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still (Hardcover)

$17.99


Available from our warehouse - 5 to 12 Days
Nadia Comaneci was a feisty and fearless little girl who went from climbing trees in the forests of Romania to swinging into history at the 1976 Olympic Games, where she received an unprecedented seven perfect scores in gymnastics. But as readers will see in this first-ever illustrated picture book about Nadia’s journey to Olympic gold, the road from small-town girl to world-class athlete was full of many imperfect moments.
     Expert illustrations that capture the energy and fluidity of Nadia's exuberant gymnastic routines and referential back matter round out this inspirational story of determination and overcoming adversity. A perfect 10.
As a little girl, Karlin Gray loved gymnastics but she wasn't feisty, fearless, or focused like Nadia Comaneci. Karlin had no problem sitting still . . . daydreaming and, eventually, writing. After working several years in publishing, she sat down and wrote her first picture book, Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still. Karlin lives in Connecticut with her husband, son, and a very bouncy dog.

Christine Davenier lives in Paris. She has also illustrated the Very Fairy Princess books by actress Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton.   

2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List  "Karlin Gray did an amazing job with this book."—Nadia Comaneci  "Sprightly watercolor illustrations are both strong and springy, capturing Nadia’s literal and metaphorical ups and downs as she works hard, fails, and picks herself up." —Booklist  "As a sports biography, and a story of a positive female role model, this book is a perfect 10 for any library!"  —School Library Connection  "Based on the popularity of gymnastics in the United States and this year’s upcoming summer Olympics, this book will find a ready audience."  —School Library Journal   "The jaunty narrative takes readers from Comaneci’s childhood through her first Olympics with lively illustrations in ink, watercolor, and pencil."  —Publishers Weekly   "Poised for the 2016 Summer Games, this pays a respectful, 40th-anniversary tribute to Comaneci's soaring achievements."  —Kirkus —