The first picture book from Olympic Gymnast Fred Richard featuring the story of how he overcame racism, bullying, and more to win one of his first competitions. “Charismatic, athletic Olympic medalist Frederick Richard tells how he was born with ‘gymnastics in his bones!’ Illustrations show him flipping in his crib, off the couch, and eventually in the gym….A hot take on a great athlete.”― School Library Journal Even before he could talk, Fred was flipping in his crib, giggling as his parents watched in awe. He was born to be a gymnast! But when Fred started training with other kids, he began to feel . . . different. Most of the gymnasts were girls. Fred was a boy―and not just any boy. He was a Black boy with skin so dark that even his friends joked, “Where’s Fred? He’s disappeared into the dark!” How could Fred learn to compete when he felt so different from everyone else? In his first book, Olympic and World Championship medalist Fred Richard tells how he overcame bullying and learned to stand tall and stand out in his quest to become one of America's most famous male gymnasts. Boys and girls alike will be inspired by Fred's grit, determination, and a piece of advice from his father that changed everything: "Why just fit in when you can shine? "  Charismatic, athletic Olympic medalist Frederick Richard tells how he was born with “gymnastics in his bones!” Illustrations show him flipping in his crib, off the couch, and eventually in the gym. In simple, straightforward language he describes how it felt to be a boy in a group of mostly girls, and to be Black and so dark-skinned that even his friends joked about it and said, “He’s disappeared in the dark!” Listening to his father’s advice that it is okay to shine rather than blend in, Richards assures his friends: “You’ll definitely see me on the podium!” Images capture him in action as he does backflips and pike handstands with perfect form. A series of vignettes demonstrates the skills of balance, strength, and flexibility as he works on the pommel horse, rings, and floor exercises. Some words are in all capitals for emphasis, such as when he decides “to FLIP the script, literally.” A last spread depicts him with an Olympic medal and offers details about his participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics.VERDICT A hot take on a great athlete, aimed at all students interested in gymnastics. Olympic gymnast Frederick Richard is a World All-Around Bronze Medalist and reigning NCAA Men’s All-Around Champion who took the world by storm at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Fred has been named to the 2024 TIME100 Next list, which highlights one hundred emerging leaders who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science, activism, and more. He is a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a native of Stoughton, Massachusetts. View Media 1 View Media 2 View Media 3 View Media 4 View Media 5 View Media 6 View Media 7 View Media 8 View Media 9 View Media 10 View Media 11 View Media 12 View Media 13 View Media 14