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5th out of 39 books
—
16 voters
Tillie the Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History
When Tillie Anderson came to America, all she had was a needle. So she got herself a job in a tailor shop and waited for a dream to find her. One day, a man sped by on a bicycle. She was told "bicycles aren't for ladies," but from then on, Tillie dreamed of riding—not graceful figure eights, but speedy, scorching, racy riding! And she knew that couldn't be done in a fancy...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
January 25th 2011
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Tillie Anderson made history in the late 1800's and early 1900's by becoming the fastest woman on a bike! From when she first began to dream of riding, she knew she wasn't interested pedaling slowly and demurely--she wanted to go fast! In her first century (100 mile) race she broke the women's record by 18 minutes, and at a time many people still didn't approve of women racing--or even riding!--she continued to compete and break records for years to come. Along the way, she scandalized her mothe...more
*Great read during Women's History Month. **A remarkable woman who would not let society's expectations stop her from achieving her dream.
Tillie came to America with a needle and a dream. Her first job was in a tailor's shop. One day a man rode by on a bicycle and her dream of riding began.
Tillie trained everyday after work riding, lifting dumbbells,and swinging Indian clubs over her head.
Tillie designed her own bike riding gear. Her mother was horrified. Folks were mortified and some stopped sp...more
Tillie came to America with a needle and a dream. Her first job was in a tailor's shop. One day a man rode by on a bicycle and her dream of riding began.
Tillie trained everyday after work riding, lifting dumbbells,and swinging Indian clubs over her head.
Tillie designed her own bike riding gear. Her mother was horrified. Folks were mortified and some stopped sp...more
This story of a woman who defies society's expectations for women by training and fashioning nonrestrictive clothing so she can ride a bicycle competitively is inspiring. Although some of the neighbors back in the 1890s were so shocked that they quit speaking to Tillie Anderson, the press and women's rights advocates adored her. Clearly, we've come a long way from those days when men feared that too much strenuous exercise was unhealthy for women, and this book serves as a reminder of the progre...more
Tillie Anderson, an immigrant to the United States, waited for her American dream to find her. She decided to begin racing bicycles, designing new outfits and exercising to build her strength. Tillie becomes such a competitive force that she is nicknamed Tillie the Terrible Swede. As I read, I wondered what the conclusion of this short children's nonfiction work would be; *spoiler* Tillie discovers the automobile!
I didn't find this story to be particularly inspiring, which you could probably dis...more
I didn't find this story to be particularly inspiring, which you could probably dis...more
Tillie Anderson appeared to be a typical hard-working immigrant girl, laboring in a tailor shop. But when a man on a bicycle rides by the shop, she begins saving up her money to buy one of the new-fangled contraptions, despite warnings from her mother that bicycles aren't for ladies.
Tillie wasn't interested in riding gracefully around a maypole, like other girls; she started training to get strong enough to ride fast, really fast. But there was a problem--her 19th century dresses. Soon Tillie d...more
Tillie wasn't interested in riding gracefully around a maypole, like other girls; she started training to get strong enough to ride fast, really fast. But there was a problem--her 19th century dresses. Soon Tillie d...more
"In the old days, most girls came to America with a dream, but all Tillie Anderson had was a needle. So she got herself a job in a tailor's shop and waited for a dream to come and find her. One fine day it rolled right by her window."
So begins this charming story of Swedish immigrant Tillie Anderson and her love of cycling. And how that love of cycling made her break many of the rules that "proper young ladies" had to follow back in the late 1800s. I so admired her zest for life, her determinati...more
So begins this charming story of Swedish immigrant Tillie Anderson and her love of cycling. And how that love of cycling made her break many of the rules that "proper young ladies" had to follow back in the late 1800s. I so admired her zest for life, her determinati...more
4 likes · like · see review
Born in 1875 in Sweden and emigrated to the United States in 1889, Tillie was a girl without an American Dream... until she spied some people riding bicycles and she longed to be out there riding with them. In Tillie's day it wasn't proper for a woman to compete in athletic competitions, but Tillie couldn't be stopped. She went on to set numerous bike racing records, despite the odds stacked against her.
Bright art in yellows, reds, and blues compliments this upbeat story of a strong woman who w...more
Bright art in yellows, reds, and blues compliments this upbeat story of a strong woman who w...more
Humerous and enjoyable picture book of Tillie Anderson, an immigrant from Sweden who came to America in 1889 in search of a better life. She became a tailor, and was soon entranced with a new fad, bicylce riding; and not demure and slow riding as befitted proper young ladies of the time, but exciting speed riding that did NOT lend itself to long, Victorian dresses. She scandalized many by designing her own attire, exercised to build up her strength, and went on to become a record-breaking racer....more
Glorious story! Vibrant art!
Sadly, I finished this delicious book wanting just a little more.
Readers like me could benefit from a more prominent biographical paragraph about the real-life Tillie Anderson, who I was not familiar with before perusing this title. There is a little more information in the seven-point-type acknowledgments, but I would have preferred to see a 50 to 100 word paragraph with the back endpaper that feature highlights of her racing career. In other words, a great story fo...more
Sadly, I finished this delicious book wanting just a little more.
Readers like me could benefit from a more prominent biographical paragraph about the real-life Tillie Anderson, who I was not familiar with before perusing this title. There is a little more information in the seven-point-type acknowledgments, but I would have preferred to see a 50 to 100 word paragraph with the back endpaper that feature highlights of her racing career. In other words, a great story fo...more
Isn't it great when a book you are looking forward to reading is as good as you hope it will be? Now that my husband is a bicycle mechanic, I've been reading more about cycling and its history so when I saw this book reviewed a while back, I ordered it for the library's collection. Tillie Anderson was awesome. Born in Sweden in 1875, Tillie emigrated to the U.S. in 1891. It wasn't too long after that she began riding a bicycle. She shocked people when she started wearing a cycling outfit which i...more
Cute biography in picture book format about Tillie Anderson, who became a bicycle racing champion and a sensation in the 1890's, when it was still rare and scandalous for women to ride bikes. Tillie made her own bicycling clothing, so that she didn't have to wear a skirt on a bike, and raced in speed and endurance competitions against other women worldwide. I liked the humorous nature of the story, how Tillie was contrary to her family, and the illustrations are detailed and stylized like ninete...more
I love reading stories like this! In this fascinating picture-book biography, Tillie Anderson takes the world by speed! After seeing a man ride by on his bicycle, Swedish emigrant Tillie could dream of nothing but riding. Tillie broke social norm after social norm and broke record after record. She was a sensation and helped paved the way for women bicyclists. Included on the back cover flap is a list of Tillie's record breaking times.
With lively illustrations and text and such a riveting story...more
With lively illustrations and text and such a riveting story...more
I really enjoyed reading this book. Its is an interesting story about Tillie a female in the early days. In the times of Tillie, woman had no rights and could not do anything males did. Tillie worked in a sewing store where she made dress. One day she saw a guy ride a bike and from day on she wanted to ride bikes. Tillie began training and before no time she was in bike riding contests. Tillie changed history with her passion for biking. The illustrations are great in the book and it is a fun bo...more
Sep 16, 2011
Deborah
marked it as picture-books
I've been reading about women and bicycles lately--and how influential bicycles were in women's changing roles in the last few centuries. This book fits with those as it tells of a immigrant who came to America without a dream but found one here when she decided to not just ride bicycles but race them--and sewed a costume to help her (one that was well outside societal norms). It's a book about dreams finding you and determination to follow them. The illustrations feel French to me (if that make...more
Here is a powerful and encouraging story about the first female bicyclist. Tillie Anderson in a period where woman were demanding respect and equal rights, she earned hers by proving her self as a great bicyclist and along the way helps pave the way to equal rights among men and women.
I’d recommend this for young children between the 2nd -3rd grade levels for reading out load, individual read and discussion purposes. It goes well with discussing the period when women rights where being pursued....more
I’d recommend this for young children between the 2nd -3rd grade levels for reading out load, individual read and discussion purposes. It goes well with discussing the period when women rights where being pursued....more
This title is "terribly" misleading! Tillie Anderson was a girl who lived in the old days. She wanted to do what men did - ride a bike. She was a tailor. Tillie figured out how to sew herself an outfit to wear why riding her bike (so it wouldn't get tangled up in the wheels & such), then rode her way into history, despite many obstacles. A great book for children to hear how much things have changed for women.
Great story. Love learning about interesting women who bucked the system, even back in the late 1890’s. Found myself wanting to know more and curious about the sources. (There was an acknowledgement that much information came from Tillie’s granddaughter.) Felt like the illustrations fit the story well. Liked the timeline of bicycle races and victories on the end pages.
Tillie was tired of riding her bike side saddle, it is such an inefficiency way to ride. As a seamstress she can up with an outfit that allowed to ride and ride fast! She didn't mind that the outfit was scandalous in her time. she began racing and winning.
I really like all these bios that are coming out about women both well known and lost in history.
I really like all these bios that are coming out about women both well known and lost in history.
Tillie Anderson was one of the first women to compete in bicycle racing. In the 1890's, the sport was new and exercise was considered dangerous for women. Tillie stood up to her critics and showed the world what women are capable of in a time when few women had such opportunities.
Good - finding a passion and pursuing it despite the odds, competition, learned something more about the long road to women's independence.
Not so good - no bibliography just a brief note in the acknowledgements on the back of the title page to hint at the author's sources.
Not so good - no bibliography just a brief note in the acknowledgements on the back of the title page to hint at the author's sources.
I liked this book, but I would have liked it more if I could have found out more about Tillie Anderson, the Swedish immigrant, and what motivated her to bicycling. I will just have to use google. I liked this book, and particularly thought the illustrations were striking. But the best of this genre so far is "Snowflake Bentley."
While this book provides several great lessons, I was bored with the story. Certainly learning about Tillie Anderson was very interesting, and the book is a great aid in teaching about woman's capabilities and the women's rights movement, but for me the story and illustrations were flat. Sometimes it is difficult to know when you are rating the author and when you are rating the story-Tillie Anderson wins again, but Sue Stauffacher and Sarah McMenemy are not at their best.
A great story about the history of women's bicycle racing but also about a very brave woman in the late 1800's defying stereotypes and dismissing anyone who told her she couldn't or shouldn't race bikes.
I liked learning some of the story of Tillie Anderson, and enjoyed the art. Just wished there was more attribution/bibliography and biographical info beyond the few years of her racing.
A good go-girl book. I loved the illustration style. Charlotte is a little young to understand that women haven't always been able to do everything, but she did like all the bike races.
An interesting story of a young woman who dreamed of riding a bicycle, an unheard thing of the times. Tillie not only got her bike but raced it in races, setting women's biking records.
A great women's rights story about a female cyclist in the late 1800s. I loved being introduced to a new female heroine! The beautiful pictures added to the story, too.
Fun book about a woman who dreamed big and bicycling. Plus she's a Swede which should make this a high-interest, must read for those of Scandinavian heritage.
Story of Tillie Anderson, turn of the century pioneer woman cyclist. My only disappointment was to learn that she switched from bicycle racing to motorcars.
Good story of one of the first women determined to follow her dream, despite the response of society, to be a bicycling athlete.
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Jun 04, 2011 08:34pm