She Rides Like the Wind: The Story Alfonsina Strada

by Joan Negrescolor, Little Gestalten (Editor)

It wasn't that long ago that girls were forbidden to ride bicycles. Also, it wasn't long ago that girls had to dress up as boys in order to stand out in society. This is the case of Alfonsina, a girl who loved to ride her bicycle, but had to fight hard for her dream. Alfonsina Strada (1891-1959) was the first woman to compete in Giro d'Italia, in 1924. The Queen of the Pedal, as she was called, is, today, a symbol of strength and resilience - which also led to her nickname devil in a dress.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Sports, Biography

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2019

Reviews

[Fátima Linhares · Rating 2 out of 5]

Duas estrelas porque eu gosto de amarelo.

[The Blossoming Bibliophiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a nonfiction lover I was excited to check out this picture book biography of Alfonsina Strada, an iconic cyclist who was the first and only woman in history to ride the prestigious Giro D’Italia race.

This book, written and illustrated by Joan Negrescolor, is unique compared to other picture book biographies as it has a minimalistic style. In this regard it is perfect for a wide variety of ages as it is short enough to read to young children, but will spark the interest of older children as well with its eye catching illustrations.

I’m excited to read this to my daughter as she grows up as it provides a great example of a strong woman who had to fight hard to reach her dreams of becoming a cyclist due to the gender barriers at the time.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the short main part of the text, but this book could have really benefitted from some backmatter because I felt like I didn’t learn that much about Alfonsina from the text itself. For example: where was she even from? The book doesn’t even tell you that.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything I look for in a bio -interesting story about a little known person. It's a shame there isn't back matter to tell us more about the remarkable Alfonsina Strada.

[João Teixeira · Rating 2 out of 5]

As ilustrações são coloridas,mas é pena que o "argumento" (a história desta mulher) não esteja desenvolvida. Aliás, se não fosse a pequeníssima nota biográfica da contracapa do livro, nem saberíamos que Alfonsina Strada existiu.

Compreendo que é um livro para o público infantil, mas nada se perderia se eata história fosse transformada numa biografia em vez de uma simples narrativa com a qual nada se aprende sobre esta mulher que "é hoje um símbolo de luta e resistência", como se diz na contracapa... Ficar sem saber exactamente como e porquê foi o que me deixou um pouco frustrado quando cheguei ao fim da leitura deste livro.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the art style and text, but there wasn't much actual information about her life or accomplishments. I had to look on the back cover to even see the years she lived and why she is important: she was the first and only woman in history to ride in the Giro D'Italia race and became a symbol of struggle and resistance for woman across the world. None of that was mentioned inside the book.

[Hanneleele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked it!