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Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman
This award-winning true story of Black Olympic runner Wilma Rudolph, who overcame childhood polio and eventually went on to win three gold medals, is illustrated by Caldecott medal–winning artist David Diaz.
Before Wilma Rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she'd run. And she did run—all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single Olympiad. This dramatic and inspiring true story is illustrated in bold watercolor and acrylic paintings.
Before Wilma Rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she'd run. And she did run—all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single Olympiad. This dramatic and inspiring true story is illustrated in bold watercolor and acrylic paintings.
44 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
December 1, 2022
The title of this book is not only the name of Wilma Rudolph's company, but the perfect description for this iconic sports hero. She was the 20th out of 22 children and suffered many illnesses as a child -- the most devastating being polio. Her focus kept her exercising and trying to get rid of her brace. One day she took off her brace and, step by step, walked into church to worship with her family. Her mama mailed that brace back to the hospital and just eight years later Wilma was on the Rome gold medal podium THREE times for the USA. The acrylic and gouache illustrations by Caldecott-winner David Diaz are accompanied by the narrative in the Ariel font also designed by the artist. An amazing picture book about an even more amazing human being.
September 25, 2012
No one expected Wilma Rudolph to become a world-famous runner because she was born underweight and sickly. She contracted polio at a young age and spent her childhood in a steel brace.
Through sheer hard work and determination, she exercised herself well enough to walk and then to be a star basketball player in high school. A college coach saw her play, and recruited her as a runner for Tennessee State University. Next thing we know, she's in the Olympics in Rome.
The tension of her Olympic performances is gripping: she runs with a twisted ankle, knowing that her competitors have earned faster qualifying times than hers. But something clicks for her, and she blows away the rest of the field.
I have read this in many story time sessions, and it never fails to hold the audience's interest. The large graphic-style pictures on one side of the page match well with the text, told with all the drama of Wilma's real-life struggle.
Through sheer hard work and determination, she exercised herself well enough to walk and then to be a star basketball player in high school. A college coach saw her play, and recruited her as a runner for Tennessee State University. Next thing we know, she's in the Olympics in Rome.
The tension of her Olympic performances is gripping: she runs with a twisted ankle, knowing that her competitors have earned faster qualifying times than hers. But something clicks for her, and she blows away the rest of the field.
I have read this in many story time sessions, and it never fails to hold the audience's interest. The large graphic-style pictures on one side of the page match well with the text, told with all the drama of Wilma's real-life struggle.
January 14, 2026
Wilma Rudolph was one of my first heroines, as a young Black girl in the 1960s. Great book with wonderful illustrations.
December 9, 2011
Citation: Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman, Kathleen Krull, David Diaz (illustrator), Harcourt Brace and Company, 1996, 38p., Junior Book/Biography
Genre: Biography
Summary: This story is about the life of Olympic Gold Medalist, Wilma Rudolph, who soared through her circumstances when others set limits.
Critiques: a. The author tells the remarkable story of Wilma’s life challenges, and the mixed media illustrations seem to surpass the words by boldly telling her story from endpapers to endpapers, in the foreground and background.
b. I think the strength of this book comes from the unity of the background photographs (with the coloring of negatives) and the naïve color rich paintings that seem to deliver emotional and symbolic commentary.
c. This portrayal can be seen on pages 10 and 11 (as well as copyright/dedication pages and the rear endpapers). On page 10 the text states Wilma was barred from attending school and was sad and lonely as she watched her siblings go off to school. On page 11, in the foreground, we see in color Wilma sitting at her window cradling a book while she is watching the other children walk to school through their yard past a white picket fence. We can tell from the painting that she longs to be with her siblings, but the background looks deeper into the cause of her sadness. Dominant in the background, is the black and white photograph of the white picket fence which seems to tell us the whole truth. The fence reminds us of her limitation and the condition of the fence suggests her emotional state. On the surface (foreground picture) the fence looks fine, but the background picture shows us how the fence has splinters, cracks, chipped paint and is worn. Wilma undoubtedly feels hurt, pricked, neglected, uncared for and contained by her disability. In addition to this, on the front endpapers we see a photograph of the unpainted side of fence with sparse vegetation, which would signify her bleak beginning. But the rear endpapers shows a photograph of the fence with flourishing vegetation, so much so that the fence (her disability) does not seem to exist, signifying the triumphant end of her story.
Genre: Biography
Summary: This story is about the life of Olympic Gold Medalist, Wilma Rudolph, who soared through her circumstances when others set limits.
Critiques: a. The author tells the remarkable story of Wilma’s life challenges, and the mixed media illustrations seem to surpass the words by boldly telling her story from endpapers to endpapers, in the foreground and background.
b. I think the strength of this book comes from the unity of the background photographs (with the coloring of negatives) and the naïve color rich paintings that seem to deliver emotional and symbolic commentary.
c. This portrayal can be seen on pages 10 and 11 (as well as copyright/dedication pages and the rear endpapers). On page 10 the text states Wilma was barred from attending school and was sad and lonely as she watched her siblings go off to school. On page 11, in the foreground, we see in color Wilma sitting at her window cradling a book while she is watching the other children walk to school through their yard past a white picket fence. We can tell from the painting that she longs to be with her siblings, but the background looks deeper into the cause of her sadness. Dominant in the background, is the black and white photograph of the white picket fence which seems to tell us the whole truth. The fence reminds us of her limitation and the condition of the fence suggests her emotional state. On the surface (foreground picture) the fence looks fine, but the background picture shows us how the fence has splinters, cracks, chipped paint and is worn. Wilma undoubtedly feels hurt, pricked, neglected, uncared for and contained by her disability. In addition to this, on the front endpapers we see a photograph of the unpainted side of fence with sparse vegetation, which would signify her bleak beginning. But the rear endpapers shows a photograph of the fence with flourishing vegetation, so much so that the fence (her disability) does not seem to exist, signifying the triumphant end of her story.
September 27, 2009
This is the picture book story of Wilma Rudolph, the Olympic runner. Wilma was born in 1940, a small and sickly baby who became a victim of polio as a young girl. This story not only tells how Wilma dealt with the challenges of polio to become an athlete, but also overcame the many challenges for African-Americans, female athletes, and people with disabilities during this era. Health care and hospitals for her were limited because of the color of her skin. She also was not allowed in school because she couldn't walk. The book very effectively captures the ups and downs of her life. The details of her dramatic first steps following her illness are related with excitement and great feeling. The offer of a college scholarship comes just after her basketball team has lost the state championship. Her almost dropping of the baton during the Olympic relay nearly gives the team second place, but Wilma demonstrates great energy and courage in the final seconds of the race. Her dramatic first place finish gives her a third gold medal. The colorful, action-filled illustrations beautifully depict the excitement and energy of Wilma's story. This book is exciting as a read aloud, but also gives children important knowledge of racism, sexism, and prejudice against people with debilitating illness during this time.
December 10, 2012
1. Genre: Biography
2. Summary: This biographical picture book is about Wilma Randolph, an African-American woman that won three gold medals in track and field at the 1960 Olympics. The book details her life and all the obstacles she had to overcome before she became the fastest women in the world.
A. Area of Comment: Accuracy of Content
B. The book is very accurate in the details of Wilma Randolph’s life and how she became an Olympic athlete. The author writes these details in a way that a young reader would be able to understand what has happened to Wilma in her younger years and how she strived to be a more than what everyone thought she could be.
C. A poignant moment in the book was when she took off her brace at church and walked down the aisle on her own and began to sing with the choir. This kind of details helps readers understand how Wilma persevered over extreme circumstances and became the person that was destined to outrun everyone in the world.
Curriculum Connection: This is a good book for young readers to be introduced to biographical texts and can be used to bring cultural diversity to the classroom
2. Summary: This biographical picture book is about Wilma Randolph, an African-American woman that won three gold medals in track and field at the 1960 Olympics. The book details her life and all the obstacles she had to overcome before she became the fastest women in the world.
A. Area of Comment: Accuracy of Content
B. The book is very accurate in the details of Wilma Randolph’s life and how she became an Olympic athlete. The author writes these details in a way that a young reader would be able to understand what has happened to Wilma in her younger years and how she strived to be a more than what everyone thought she could be.
C. A poignant moment in the book was when she took off her brace at church and walked down the aisle on her own and began to sing with the choir. This kind of details helps readers understand how Wilma persevered over extreme circumstances and became the person that was destined to outrun everyone in the world.
Curriculum Connection: This is a good book for young readers to be introduced to biographical texts and can be used to bring cultural diversity to the classroom
March 23, 2016
This book tells the truly inspiring story of Wilma Rudolph. As a young child, she suffered many health issues including polio, which left her left leg paralyzed. This wasn’t enough to stop Wilma though. With dedication and determination, Wilma taught herself how to walk without the use of her brace. From that moment, Wilma wouldn’t let anything stop her, and she went on to play basketball. While playing basketball, she realized her real talent was running. After using the same determination and dedication that helped her walk again, she went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
This story is a great one to add to a classroom library. This text could be used when students are learning about the Olympics, polio, or determination. With so many different teaching opportunities and an incredible story, this is one children will be sure to love
This story is a great one to add to a classroom library. This text could be used when students are learning about the Olympics, polio, or determination. With so many different teaching opportunities and an incredible story, this is one children will be sure to love
June 15, 2017
This older book beautifully captures the life of challenges Wilma Rudolph faced, even beginning her life as a 'too-small' and sickly baby. Then she was five; she had polio. Many said she would never walk again. She said not only would she walk, but she would run. She's the first woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic competition. David Diaz art illustrations are breath-taking. Acrylic/watercolor with black outlining, then set onto a related photograph of the times in sepia tones feel as if they show Wilma's strength, too. It's quite an amazing story.
April 29, 2025
Wilma Rudolph had polio–but she still became the fastest woman in the world. Wilma really was unlimited! In this book, the story of Wilma Rudolph’s life is told. As soon as Wilma learned how to walk, she was always running and jumping around. She was a sickly child, however, and was prone to getting extremely sick. Her mother knew home remedies and always treated her at home because it was difficult for black people to go to doctors at this time. Right before she turned five, Wilma became more sick than she ever had before. She had scarlet fever and polio; her left leg had twisted inward and she could not walk anymore. However, this did not stop her. She began hopping on one foot to get around, and regularly going to a doctor for treatment. There was only one doctor around who treated black people, and he was located over fifty miles away. She learned exercises for her paralyzed leg and practiced them all the time. She was no longer allowed to go to school because she could not walk. This made her very sad, and she decided to fight back. She did exercises until her leg was strong enough to walk with a supporting brace. Now she was finally able to go to school, but the other children made fun of her brace. During recess, she was always on the sidelines, watching the kids play basketball. School made her sad, but she did more leg exercises to combat the sadness. One day, when Wilma was going into church, she decided to take her brace off. She surprised everyone, including herself, because she was actually able to walk again! She kept on practicing walking, and was finally able to retire her brace when she was twelve years old. She began playing basketball, the game she used to love watching. She was an amazing player, leading her high school team to many victories. Her team went all the way to the state championships, but they lost. It was there that a college coach discovered Wilma, specifically for her running ability. He wanted to have her on his track and field team, and he helped her get a full athletic scholarship to Tennessee State University. In the summer of 1960, Wilma represented the United States as a runner in the Olympics. The odds were stacked against her, and she had even twisted her ankle a little before the race. However, when it was time for her to run, Wilma forgot all of her pain and ran better than she ever had before. She won three Olympic gold medals: the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 400-meter dash. She was the fastest woman in the world!
The major themes in the book were perseverance and racism. The theme of perseverance is portrayed through Wilma’s unwavering determination to get her leg working again. In addition, Wilma does not stop once she reaches the goal she has set. She always makes bigger goals. For example, she first had the goal of being able to walk again, and then she made the goal of being able to walk without a brace. The theme of racism is demonstrated when the author mentions that black people can only sit in the back of the bus, and that there is only one doctor around who is willing to treat black people. Not only did Wilma experience extreme illnesses, but she also faced discrimination just because she was black and a woman. The main genre of this book is biography. Children reading this book could learn the concept of setting goals and perseverance. Wilma always set goals for herself, even if they seemed literally impossible at first. She worked hard and did not give up, making insane progress in her goals. Another concept children reading this book could learn is the importance of believing in yourself. When Wilma took off her brace to walk for the first time, she was very nervous, but she believed in herself. If she did not believe in herself, she never would have been able to do that. This book was a WOW book for me because it inspired me. I really want to be an athlete, and I was so inspired by Wilma’s perseverance and the way she worked so hard to heal her injuries. I have experienced some minor muscle injuries due to weight lifting, and it sometimes makes me feel unmotivated. Reading about how Wilma was able to overcome polio really makes me feel like I can reach all my athletic goals if I just put in the effort.
One of the literary devices the author used in writing this book was a linear plot. Since this is a biography, it is fitting to have a linear plot, because it will follow the person’s life in order. Linear plots have three key parts: a beginning, middle, and end. In this story, the beginning was Wilma’s early life, the middle was Wilma’s struggle with polio, and the end was Wilma’s athletic career. This literary device added to the quality of the writing in the book because it helped it flow better and be easily understandable by readers. Another literary device the author used in writing this book was imagery, such as when Wilma took her brace off at church for the first time. The author vividly described the situation and how Wilma felt, like “she unbuckled her heavy brace” and “taking a deep breath” and “her knees trembling violently.” This literary device added to the quality of the writing in the book because it made it more immersive; it helped readers visualize and actually feel the emotions that Wilma might have been experiencing.
The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by writing about a black female athlete. The book was well-researched, with positive portrayals of black people and non-stereotypical characters. The characters felt true to life and authentic, and it was an authentic characterization of Wilma Rudolph.
The major themes in the book were perseverance and racism. The theme of perseverance is portrayed through Wilma’s unwavering determination to get her leg working again. In addition, Wilma does not stop once she reaches the goal she has set. She always makes bigger goals. For example, she first had the goal of being able to walk again, and then she made the goal of being able to walk without a brace. The theme of racism is demonstrated when the author mentions that black people can only sit in the back of the bus, and that there is only one doctor around who is willing to treat black people. Not only did Wilma experience extreme illnesses, but she also faced discrimination just because she was black and a woman. The main genre of this book is biography. Children reading this book could learn the concept of setting goals and perseverance. Wilma always set goals for herself, even if they seemed literally impossible at first. She worked hard and did not give up, making insane progress in her goals. Another concept children reading this book could learn is the importance of believing in yourself. When Wilma took off her brace to walk for the first time, she was very nervous, but she believed in herself. If she did not believe in herself, she never would have been able to do that. This book was a WOW book for me because it inspired me. I really want to be an athlete, and I was so inspired by Wilma’s perseverance and the way she worked so hard to heal her injuries. I have experienced some minor muscle injuries due to weight lifting, and it sometimes makes me feel unmotivated. Reading about how Wilma was able to overcome polio really makes me feel like I can reach all my athletic goals if I just put in the effort.
One of the literary devices the author used in writing this book was a linear plot. Since this is a biography, it is fitting to have a linear plot, because it will follow the person’s life in order. Linear plots have three key parts: a beginning, middle, and end. In this story, the beginning was Wilma’s early life, the middle was Wilma’s struggle with polio, and the end was Wilma’s athletic career. This literary device added to the quality of the writing in the book because it helped it flow better and be easily understandable by readers. Another literary device the author used in writing this book was imagery, such as when Wilma took her brace off at church for the first time. The author vividly described the situation and how Wilma felt, like “she unbuckled her heavy brace” and “taking a deep breath” and “her knees trembling violently.” This literary device added to the quality of the writing in the book because it made it more immersive; it helped readers visualize and actually feel the emotions that Wilma might have been experiencing.
The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by writing about a black female athlete. The book was well-researched, with positive portrayals of black people and non-stereotypical characters. The characters felt true to life and authentic, and it was an authentic characterization of Wilma Rudolph.
May 1, 2025
I didn’t know much about Wilma Rudolph before reading this, but her story honestly amazed me. This book was super inspiring and made me think about how much someone can overcome. Wilma Unlimited tells the true story of Wilma Rudolph. She was born really small and got polio as a kid. Doctors said she’d never walk again, but she worked hard and didn’t give up. She ended up becoming the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at one Olympics. That’s honestly wild to think about. The main themes are perseverance, strength, and beating the odds. Wilma went through so much, from being sick as a child to dealing with racism and being underestimated. One part that really stuck with me was when she finally walked without her brace. It felt like such a big moment, and it made me realize how much effort went into something people usually take for granted. The genre is biography, and it’s told in a way that’s easy to follow for children. It was a WOW book for me because it made me care so much about someone I’d never heard of before. I actually looked her up afterward because I wanted to know more.
Two things I learned were:
1. Wilma’s success wasn’t just about winning medals. It was about her strength and how she inspired others.
2. Kids could learn that no matter what people say about you, you can still prove them wrong. I could totally use this book to start a conversation with my nephew about confidence and not giving up.
The author used tone and pacing really well. The tone was serious, but not too heavy. You could feel how hard Wilma’s life was, but it was written in a hopeful way. The pacing was slow in the right places, especially when she was working to walk again. That made the moment when she finally ran feel even bigger. This book won awards like the Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor and was named an ALA Notable Book, which makes total sense. It’s short, powerful, and really well done. It’s also a great anti-bias book. It shares the story of a Black girl who faced both racism and ableism, and it doesn’t hide the hard stuff. But it also shows her success and strength. It felt respectful and real, and I think kids need stories like this.
Two things I learned were:
1. Wilma’s success wasn’t just about winning medals. It was about her strength and how she inspired others.
2. Kids could learn that no matter what people say about you, you can still prove them wrong. I could totally use this book to start a conversation with my nephew about confidence and not giving up.
The author used tone and pacing really well. The tone was serious, but not too heavy. You could feel how hard Wilma’s life was, but it was written in a hopeful way. The pacing was slow in the right places, especially when she was working to walk again. That made the moment when she finally ran feel even bigger. This book won awards like the Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor and was named an ALA Notable Book, which makes total sense. It’s short, powerful, and really well done. It’s also a great anti-bias book. It shares the story of a Black girl who faced both racism and ableism, and it doesn’t hide the hard stuff. But it also shows her success and strength. It felt respectful and real, and I think kids need stories like this.
December 4, 2024
Autobiography can often be exaggerated for the reader's pleasure, but not this book. I think this was a great representation of Wilma Rudolph and how she overcame problems in her childhood with contracting polio and having one paralyzed leg then recovering to become the fastest woman in the world. Two primary themes of the book are perseverance and overcoming adversity. Perseverance was shown when Wilma had her leg paralyzed by Polio and then eventually made a full recovery through hard work and determination. Overcoming adversity is shown when she went to the Olympic gaming in 1960 in Rome, people thought that track and field was a male sport but she proved them all wrong and won 3 gold medals during the Olympic games. A WOW aspect of this book is the amount of problems she had growing up, it would have been easy to give up on the situation, but Wilma showed that she wanted to be better and grow and the author did a great job showing Wilma's life in all aspects.
Imagery was a huge part of this book. I could have read this book without looking at the illustrations and had a perfect picture of the book in my head, I believe the author excelled at this. Flashbacks were used during this autobiography and brought the reader back to the beginning of her life and when she had her illness of Polio growing up. This book showed many points that it is free from any bias, and an example of this would be Wilma growing up in a time when segregation was taking place and she had to take a bus with her mom while sitting in the back of the bus, to a hospital 50 miles in Nashville Tennessee every week so that she could get treatment from a doctor that treated African Americans. This book was a perfect example of what an autobiography should be, it showed her life and the adversity she encountered and also her journey to becoming the fastest woman on Earth.
Imagery was a huge part of this book. I could have read this book without looking at the illustrations and had a perfect picture of the book in my head, I believe the author excelled at this. Flashbacks were used during this autobiography and brought the reader back to the beginning of her life and when she had her illness of Polio growing up. This book showed many points that it is free from any bias, and an example of this would be Wilma growing up in a time when segregation was taking place and she had to take a bus with her mom while sitting in the back of the bus, to a hospital 50 miles in Nashville Tennessee every week so that she could get treatment from a doctor that treated African Americans. This book was a perfect example of what an autobiography should be, it showed her life and the adversity she encountered and also her journey to becoming the fastest woman on Earth.
November 28, 2022
This book is a biography of Wilma Rudolph's life in which she dealt with racism, sickness, and injuries. She contracted polio at a young age and is required to wear a brace for most of her childhood. Despite this obstacle, Wilma is extremely perseverent and works hard to strengthen her injured leg in order to walk without her brace and play sports. Wilma is selected to represent the U.S. at the Olympics and despite twisting her ankle once arriving earns 3 gold medals. The book shows many major setbacks that she faced in her life and the amount of work that she puts into overcoming these issues is awe-inspiring. The largest theme of this book is perseverance and this book includes representation for those with life-threatening illnesses and those with physical ailments as well as depicting the struggles of African-American women. Wilma's story is encouraging to both children and adults and I believe that this book could be used to teach children about the importance of not giving up on yourself despite your personal struggles. This book may also inspire children who dream of becoming athletes but may not feel as though they are good enough to pursue that path. Wilma's story is so inspiring and shows that determination is the most important factor in personal success and finding fulfillment in your life, making this a WOW book for me. The author's literary craft impressed me since they used complex vocabulary and did not downplay the issues that Wilma faced. I think this helps to contribute to the book's message by keeping a tone of honesty and sincerity throughout the story. This book is as anti-biased as possible due to the author having experience writing many different biographies and the extensive research that was put into this book. I also think that the language chosen helps to keep an objective yet inspiring tone that is free from bias.
May 16, 2017
Beautifully written and incredibly inspiring picturebook biography about Wilma Rudolph "who overcame crippling polio as a child to become the first woman to win three gold medals in track in a single Olympics":
Although I am not a huge fan of David Diaz's drawing style, his paintings and the photographed backgrounds fit the story well:
However, I cannot but notice that Diaz takes a lot of artistic license in illustrating the runners. For example, he depicts the athletes starting 200-meter dash side by side, while in reality the starting line for 200-meter dash is different for each athlete due to the curve of the track. What is more, Diaz's doublespread illustration of the relay race is almost comical because some of the runners are depicted running with the same arm and leg forward and their toes pointing. It makes me cringe a little...
Although I am not a huge fan of David Diaz's drawing style, his paintings and the photographed backgrounds fit the story well:
However, I cannot but notice that Diaz takes a lot of artistic license in illustrating the runners. For example, he depicts the athletes starting 200-meter dash side by side, while in reality the starting line for 200-meter dash is different for each athlete due to the curve of the track. What is more, Diaz's doublespread illustration of the relay race is almost comical because some of the runners are depicted running with the same arm and leg forward and their toes pointing. It makes me cringe a little...
May 8, 2021
This picture book tells a story about Wilma Rudolph, a woman who was the first American woman to win 3 gold metals at a single olympics. Many thought Wilma was very limited as she was born at 4 pounds and then later developed polio in her childhood, causing her limitations to walking, but this did not stop Wilma. Unfortunately, with Wilma being an African-American in the 1940’s, very few doctors chose to see patients of color. The climax of the story is in the setting of a church when Wilma took her metal brace off and walked to her seat. This was her first time walking since she developed Polio. With everyone astonished, Wilma stayed focused. With some challenges, Wilma persisted which leads to the resolution where Wilma takes home 3 gold metals in a single day at the olympics. I recommend this Jane Addams award winning book! The theme is to never give up, which is very obvious in Wilma Rudolph!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2017
It was sad at first and it got fun at the end...
March 6, 2017
Way to fight polio
July 11, 2021
Fascinating!!!!
January 27, 2018
A hugely inspiring book with an amazing heroine - Wilma Rudolph. I got this book for my 7 year old daughter and I'm very pleased to say that we find ourselves reading this book every now and then. I find her reading it and each time she picks up this book, she has a different question for me about Wilma's life. We have done searches on You Tube, Wikipedia, and also a school project on Wilma. It''s a great book to initiate your child on reading about people of the world and their outstanding qualities - resilience, sheer determination and grit, belief in oneself and living with purpose. As for me, I choke up everytime I read about how she ran in her 1st Olympic race. It's a children's book, but I totally recommend it for adults as well.
April 20, 2021
After reading Wilma Unlimited, I was left with the feeling of grit, motivation, and determination to overcome any obstacles I am faced with. From reading this book, it is important to realize that you can overcome anything that you are faced and if you put in the work you can achieve more than you can think of. Setbacks shouldn't determine what you can accomplish in life and instead be a motivating factor to overcome things and be the best you can be. I felt connected to this book because I play on the NC State Volleyball team and throughout my collegiate career I have had 4 surgeries that have been road blocks in my success as an athlete. I am not starting to get back and play more and more and I am proud of myself because I am strong and motivated and did not give up on myself. This is an autobiography genre book and targets all ages but I would allow focus 3-5 grades mostly.
Including this book in my future classroom would be very beneficial. This shows students at a young age to never give up on yourself and what your goals are. It demonstrates how putting in the work and setting your mind to something will give you challenges but also have major rewards in your life. I think having the students each be required to individually read this book or read it as a whole group will be good because there will be discussions on how to overcome obstacles in life and students can share ways they have overcome moments in their life.
This is a WOW book because of how touched I was when reading it. I felt like I was meant to read this book and keep pushing in life and any challenges I face. I think having an understanding of Wilma and knowing her background of life gives a great example of how life will throw many things at you even when you are not expecting it, but keeping a positive and determined mindset to never give up is very important.
Including this book in my future classroom would be very beneficial. This shows students at a young age to never give up on yourself and what your goals are. It demonstrates how putting in the work and setting your mind to something will give you challenges but also have major rewards in your life. I think having the students each be required to individually read this book or read it as a whole group will be good because there will be discussions on how to overcome obstacles in life and students can share ways they have overcome moments in their life.
This is a WOW book because of how touched I was when reading it. I felt like I was meant to read this book and keep pushing in life and any challenges I face. I think having an understanding of Wilma and knowing her background of life gives a great example of how life will throw many things at you even when you are not expecting it, but keeping a positive and determined mindset to never give up is very important.
March 6, 2017
This book was very inspirational. This read holds some valuable lessons appropriate for all age groups. I enjoyed Wilma's story and I would highly recommend this book.
September 19, 2012
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman is a true story about an African American woman named Wilma who was born prematurely. She was born in Clarksville, TN in 1940. Wilma was very tiny growing up, but also very active. When she turned five years old, she got very sick and was diagnosed with polio. After that, Wilma could not walk and it hurt her to see all of her siblings go to school when she couldn't. Finally, she saw a doctor and got a brace. She worked very hard to be able to walk in her brace. After much hard work and determination, she finally gets the courage to take off her brace and walk down the aisle in front of everyone at her church. To everyone's surprise, she made it safely to the front row. After that, she was able to get stronger and play her favorite sports that she used to watch from the sidelines. A college coach saw her skill in basketball, and recruited her to be a part of his track team. She ended up being so fast that she won the gold medal for the U.S. in 1960.
The illustrations are great. They are composed of very soft colors and a lot of curved lines. The images are not very detailed, however they definitely represent the text very well. The illustrator, David Diaz, also did something very unique. For each page, there was a main illustration to represent the text. He also included a real photograph for each page and used it as the background that covers both pages. I think that having those background images is a nice touch and helps children to understand the text even farther. Even though the text talks about how Wilma got polio, children can look at the cover and the title to predict that she ends up being healed. I would use this book as a read aloud for 4th-5th grade students due to he amount of text. I would use it for a lesson during black history month, the Olympics, or simply just to discuss that you can achieve anything if you work hard. Without a doubt, I recommend this book to other teachers because it is a wonderful multicultural book that has a great message.
The illustrations are great. They are composed of very soft colors and a lot of curved lines. The images are not very detailed, however they definitely represent the text very well. The illustrator, David Diaz, also did something very unique. For each page, there was a main illustration to represent the text. He also included a real photograph for each page and used it as the background that covers both pages. I think that having those background images is a nice touch and helps children to understand the text even farther. Even though the text talks about how Wilma got polio, children can look at the cover and the title to predict that she ends up being healed. I would use this book as a read aloud for 4th-5th grade students due to he amount of text. I would use it for a lesson during black history month, the Olympics, or simply just to discuss that you can achieve anything if you work hard. Without a doubt, I recommend this book to other teachers because it is a wonderful multicultural book that has a great message.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2019
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman is a children's picture book written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by David Díaz. It is a cursory biography about the childhood of Wilma Rudolph, who would one day become the World's Fastest Woman.
February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American sprinter from Clarksville, Tennessee, who became a world-record-holding Olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. Rudolph was acclaimed the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and became the first American woman, to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
Krull's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. It details the childhood of Wilma Rudolph and her family. It details her life from her sickly childhood and her steely determination that got her to the 1960 Summer Olympics and her triple win. Díaz's illustrations are phenomenally drawn, colorful, and depicted the narrative extremely well with an intriguing art style.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It chronicles the childhood of Wilma Rudolph from being the twentieth child born in her family to her bout of Scarlet Fever and Polio when she turned five, where she was told that she might never walk again. Through sheer determination, not only did she manage to walk again, but run. The narration ends with a triple gold medal in three events that she participated in during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
All in all, Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman is a wonderful, but brief biography of Wilma Rudolph from sickly child to the fastest women in the world and the world and time she had lived in.
February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American sprinter from Clarksville, Tennessee, who became a world-record-holding Olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. Rudolph was acclaimed the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and became the first American woman, to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
Krull's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. It details the childhood of Wilma Rudolph and her family. It details her life from her sickly childhood and her steely determination that got her to the 1960 Summer Olympics and her triple win. Díaz's illustrations are phenomenally drawn, colorful, and depicted the narrative extremely well with an intriguing art style.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It chronicles the childhood of Wilma Rudolph from being the twentieth child born in her family to her bout of Scarlet Fever and Polio when she turned five, where she was told that she might never walk again. Through sheer determination, not only did she manage to walk again, but run. The narration ends with a triple gold medal in three events that she participated in during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
All in all, Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman is a wonderful, but brief biography of Wilma Rudolph from sickly child to the fastest women in the world and the world and time she had lived in.
November 23, 2009
The illustrations are great. The font, though a little difficult to read, matches the pictures and is sure pretty. And the story is inspirational, I guess...
Actually, tell the truth, it's a little *too* inspirational. To read this book, Wilma Randolph did nothing in her life but work hard to overcome stuff. Which is inspirational, sure... but she comes out seeming very hard to relate too. As I read about how she successfully overcame being a (poor, black) preemie, and successfully overcame being incredibly sickly, and successfully overcame polio, and successfully overcame racism and sexism (and the continuing effects of her disability)... I start to wonder, did Wilma Rudolph ever have a bad day? Did she never, like the rest of us humans, wake up in a miserable mood and want to crawl under the covers and let somebody else do the work? When she was a child and it hurt to do the exercises to learn to walk again, did she never throw a tantrum? When she was sitting on the sidelines at recess, did she never go home and whine to her mom about how unfair it all was?
Oh, she probably did. But to read this book, you'd think all the limitations she overcame were external - disability and a heap of -isms, that she never had to overcome a grumpy mood or frustration or just plain old-fashioned PMS like us normal folk. It can be a little tiring to read, honestly - none of us is ever going to be as perfect as she's (unrealistically) depicted as being.
I mean, look. Wilma strikes me as a fascinating individual. She did accomplish a lot - and winning the Olympics is an accomplishment in itself, even if you don't do it as an ex-polio kid with a twisted ankle. I just... I wish I could connect to her more as a real person when I read this book. Maybe it'll grow on me.
Actually, tell the truth, it's a little *too* inspirational. To read this book, Wilma Randolph did nothing in her life but work hard to overcome stuff. Which is inspirational, sure... but she comes out seeming very hard to relate too. As I read about how she successfully overcame being a (poor, black) preemie, and successfully overcame being incredibly sickly, and successfully overcame polio, and successfully overcame racism and sexism (and the continuing effects of her disability)... I start to wonder, did Wilma Rudolph ever have a bad day? Did she never, like the rest of us humans, wake up in a miserable mood and want to crawl under the covers and let somebody else do the work? When she was a child and it hurt to do the exercises to learn to walk again, did she never throw a tantrum? When she was sitting on the sidelines at recess, did she never go home and whine to her mom about how unfair it all was?
Oh, she probably did. But to read this book, you'd think all the limitations she overcame were external - disability and a heap of -isms, that she never had to overcome a grumpy mood or frustration or just plain old-fashioned PMS like us normal folk. It can be a little tiring to read, honestly - none of us is ever going to be as perfect as she's (unrealistically) depicted as being.
I mean, look. Wilma strikes me as a fascinating individual. She did accomplish a lot - and winning the Olympics is an accomplishment in itself, even if you don't do it as an ex-polio kid with a twisted ankle. I just... I wish I could connect to her more as a real person when I read this book. Maybe it'll grow on me.
March 7, 2018
Title: Wilma Unlimited
Author: Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: David Diaz
GR Level: R
Lexile: 850
Grade Level: 4th
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1996
Genre: Non- Fiction
Pages: 36
Summary:
In this heartwarming story, a sick child who wasn’t supposed to live past the age of one, wins 3 Olympic gold medals. The story follows Wilma Rudolph`s life and showes how hard work, patience and tenacity can pay off in the end. In addition to showing how Wilma fought against her own illnesses, the book also shows how people of color were treated over the course of Wilma`s life. Wilma fights back against multiple illnesses, people`s doubts and negative stereotypes throughout her life but she never gives up. The message that this book sends to readers is powerful.
Teaching Ideas:
One thing that I love about this book is how is accurately describes the time period that Wilma lived in. One prompt I would want the students to answer is In your opinion, do you think her life would be easier or harder if she was born today? Why? How would Wilma`s life be different if she was born today?
Another prompt that I would want the students to answer is “What is something that you have accomplished that you had to work very hard for? What are some of the things that you had to overcome to accomplish it?
Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B
Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.C
Link opinion
Author: Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: David Diaz
GR Level: R
Lexile: 850
Grade Level: 4th
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1996
Genre: Non- Fiction
Pages: 36
Summary:
In this heartwarming story, a sick child who wasn’t supposed to live past the age of one, wins 3 Olympic gold medals. The story follows Wilma Rudolph`s life and showes how hard work, patience and tenacity can pay off in the end. In addition to showing how Wilma fought against her own illnesses, the book also shows how people of color were treated over the course of Wilma`s life. Wilma fights back against multiple illnesses, people`s doubts and negative stereotypes throughout her life but she never gives up. The message that this book sends to readers is powerful.
Teaching Ideas:
One thing that I love about this book is how is accurately describes the time period that Wilma lived in. One prompt I would want the students to answer is In your opinion, do you think her life would be easier or harder if she was born today? Why? How would Wilma`s life be different if she was born today?
Another prompt that I would want the students to answer is “What is something that you have accomplished that you had to work very hard for? What are some of the things that you had to overcome to accomplish it?
Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B
Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.C
Link opinion
September 30, 2012
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary
Reading level: AD730L (lexile.com)
Genre: Biography
Main Characters: Wilma Rudolph
Setting: 1940-1994, Tennessee
POV: third person, narrator
"Wilma Unlimited" is a true story about Wilma Rudolph, the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics for track and field. Wilma's life story is unfolds, revealing her struggles to walk after she was stricken with Polio and her isolation from school as a child. Despite racial and physical hardships, Wilma goes on to lead an inspiring life.
This was a great book. The illustrator David Diaz layers photographs with painted pictures to create vivid images that blend dream and reality. Wilma Rudolph's story is inspirational and would be a great read-aloud for students to talk about motivation, hard work, perserverance.
My only critique is that this book's message, that success is found by hardwork and innate talent, perpetuates the American myth of 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.' Most of the time, successful people are outliers because they had opportunities that many did not, and we as a culture don't draw our attention to these exceptionalities. I don't want to to teach students this misconception because it sets them up for failure. I'd rather them analyze the opportunities they have and teach them how to utilize them to make the most out of their lives.
Reading level: AD730L (lexile.com)
Genre: Biography
Main Characters: Wilma Rudolph
Setting: 1940-1994, Tennessee
POV: third person, narrator
"Wilma Unlimited" is a true story about Wilma Rudolph, the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics for track and field. Wilma's life story is unfolds, revealing her struggles to walk after she was stricken with Polio and her isolation from school as a child. Despite racial and physical hardships, Wilma goes on to lead an inspiring life.
This was a great book. The illustrator David Diaz layers photographs with painted pictures to create vivid images that blend dream and reality. Wilma Rudolph's story is inspirational and would be a great read-aloud for students to talk about motivation, hard work, perserverance.
My only critique is that this book's message, that success is found by hardwork and innate talent, perpetuates the American myth of 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.' Most of the time, successful people are outliers because they had opportunities that many did not, and we as a culture don't draw our attention to these exceptionalities. I don't want to to teach students this misconception because it sets them up for failure. I'd rather them analyze the opportunities they have and teach them how to utilize them to make the most out of their lives.
November 6, 2012
Grade/interest level: Primary
Reading level: 730 Lexile
Genre: Biography/ Multicultural Literature
Main Characters: Wilma
Setting: 1940-1994 Tennessee
POV: Narrator
This book is based on the true story of Wilma Rudolph, the Olympic champion known by numerous people worldwide. This book goes through her life story, which I didn't know prior, from a young child to world famous athlete. Wilma was stricken with polio as a young child. By the times she was five years old, she was paralyzed in her left leg. Many doctors told Wilma that she would never walk again, however, she was determined to prove them wrong. Wilma set goals and accomplished them one by one. Eventually, she worked so hard she was able to become an Olympic athlete. She became the first woman to win three goal medals in a row. She not only had to overcome her disability, but racial prejudices as well.
I really like this book. It is a great way to teach kids what they are capable of if they put their minds to it. It teaches kids to set big goals and not let anyone tell them they cannot accomplish what they want. However, I do feel this book does have one negative point. The way Wilma beat the odds was rare. It is almost impossible for a paralyzed woman to become an Olympian. I don't want my students to get unrealistic goals. My goal for them is to set high yet achievable goals for themselves. Regardless, I would still use this book in my room.
Reading level: 730 Lexile
Genre: Biography/ Multicultural Literature
Main Characters: Wilma
Setting: 1940-1994 Tennessee
POV: Narrator
This book is based on the true story of Wilma Rudolph, the Olympic champion known by numerous people worldwide. This book goes through her life story, which I didn't know prior, from a young child to world famous athlete. Wilma was stricken with polio as a young child. By the times she was five years old, she was paralyzed in her left leg. Many doctors told Wilma that she would never walk again, however, she was determined to prove them wrong. Wilma set goals and accomplished them one by one. Eventually, she worked so hard she was able to become an Olympic athlete. She became the first woman to win three goal medals in a row. She not only had to overcome her disability, but racial prejudices as well.
I really like this book. It is a great way to teach kids what they are capable of if they put their minds to it. It teaches kids to set big goals and not let anyone tell them they cannot accomplish what they want. However, I do feel this book does have one negative point. The way Wilma beat the odds was rare. It is almost impossible for a paralyzed woman to become an Olympian. I don't want my students to get unrealistic goals. My goal for them is to set high yet achievable goals for themselves. Regardless, I would still use this book in my room.
November 23, 2015
This is truly an amazing story about an amazing women. Wilma Rudolph is an Olympic athlete in track and field. This book is the story of her life.
When Wilma was a little girl, she was often sick. Her illness lead her to not be able to walk. The doctors told her parents that she would never be able to walk again. That did not sit well with her parents. So, they walked Wilma 2 miles to physical therapy to her regain the muscles in her legs. Not only did Wilma learn to walk again, but she later became a gold medalist in running track and field in the Olympics.
I came across this book when I was looking for mentor text to explain growth mindset. I read this book to my class in the beginning of the year to show examples of a growth mindset. In my classroom, we have an effort meter for our behavior chart. We move our clips up or down based on the amount of effort we put towards our work or our behavior. In first grade, the term "growth mindset" is a hard concept to grasp. This true story is a great example to show if you work really hard, you can achieve your goals.
I would also read this wonderful book to learn about Famous Americans. Learning about Famous American is a big social studies unit for first grade.
When Wilma was a little girl, she was often sick. Her illness lead her to not be able to walk. The doctors told her parents that she would never be able to walk again. That did not sit well with her parents. So, they walked Wilma 2 miles to physical therapy to her regain the muscles in her legs. Not only did Wilma learn to walk again, but she later became a gold medalist in running track and field in the Olympics.
I came across this book when I was looking for mentor text to explain growth mindset. I read this book to my class in the beginning of the year to show examples of a growth mindset. In my classroom, we have an effort meter for our behavior chart. We move our clips up or down based on the amount of effort we put towards our work or our behavior. In first grade, the term "growth mindset" is a hard concept to grasp. This true story is a great example to show if you work really hard, you can achieve your goals.
I would also read this wonderful book to learn about Famous Americans. Learning about Famous American is a big social studies unit for first grade.
November 21, 2012
Grade Level interest: 3rd-5th grade
Lexile Level: 730L
Genre: Picture book/ Multicultural Literature/ Biography
Main Characters: Wilma
Setting: Tennessee/ Track field
POV: Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee with her parents and her 21 brothers and sisters. Wilma contracted polio and faced many difficult times in her life. She was always sick and going to the doctors. Doctors said that because of the polio, Wilma would never be able to walk again. This did not stop her. Wilma kept her faith and determination to get better. Little did anyone know that she would become one of the finest American American women athletes in America. This book takes you through the life of Wilma explaining her struggles and strives in life.
Students love to learn about new people from history they do not know about. I think this is great book to use in the classroom to talk about inspirational people in American History. I would use this book during a unit on biographies of different people in history. Students can write their own biographies based on what they learned from this unit.
Lexile Level: 730L
Genre: Picture book/ Multicultural Literature/ Biography
Main Characters: Wilma
Setting: Tennessee/ Track field
POV: Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee with her parents and her 21 brothers and sisters. Wilma contracted polio and faced many difficult times in her life. She was always sick and going to the doctors. Doctors said that because of the polio, Wilma would never be able to walk again. This did not stop her. Wilma kept her faith and determination to get better. Little did anyone know that she would become one of the finest American American women athletes in America. This book takes you through the life of Wilma explaining her struggles and strives in life.
Students love to learn about new people from history they do not know about. I think this is great book to use in the classroom to talk about inspirational people in American History. I would use this book during a unit on biographies of different people in history. Students can write their own biographies based on what they learned from this unit.
December 11, 2012
Genre: Biographical
Summary: This is the true story of a tiny sick girl that overcame an amazing amount of obstacles and health issues to not only be the first in her family to go to college but she made it into the Olympics. It it a powerful story of strength, pride and determination.
Critique:
A. Message
B. This story is amazingly powerful. The author gives us a true inspiring story of a brave woman who did not let circumstances keep her down or limit her life.
C. The book states that despite low birth weight, sickness, and polio, Wilma was the first of her family to go to college and go on to the Summer Olympics winning the Gold medal and the title of fastest woman in the world.
Curriculum connection: This is an extraordinary human interest story about overcoming hardships to be happy and live unlimited. In can be used in a social studies lesson about amazing people in America's history, in science as disease and viruses are discussed or in literature as a part of a nonfiction writing section.
Summary: This is the true story of a tiny sick girl that overcame an amazing amount of obstacles and health issues to not only be the first in her family to go to college but she made it into the Olympics. It it a powerful story of strength, pride and determination.
Critique:
A. Message
B. This story is amazingly powerful. The author gives us a true inspiring story of a brave woman who did not let circumstances keep her down or limit her life.
C. The book states that despite low birth weight, sickness, and polio, Wilma was the first of her family to go to college and go on to the Summer Olympics winning the Gold medal and the title of fastest woman in the world.
Curriculum connection: This is an extraordinary human interest story about overcoming hardships to be happy and live unlimited. In can be used in a social studies lesson about amazing people in America's history, in science as disease and viruses are discussed or in literature as a part of a nonfiction writing section.
November 30, 2016
1) Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
This book is nonfiction. It is about a woman named Wilma Rudolph who grew up in Clarksville, TN. She always loved to run. This book tells about how Wilma Rudolph became the fastedt woman runner in the world.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
3rd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I would have this book in my classroom library for classroom enjoyment.
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
Students who need inspiration and encouragement
5) Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
none
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
read aloud for fun
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
none
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
There is a listening tape with this book. I would use it in the learning center for listening.
This book is nonfiction. It is about a woman named Wilma Rudolph who grew up in Clarksville, TN. She always loved to run. This book tells about how Wilma Rudolph became the fastedt woman runner in the world.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
3rd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I would have this book in my classroom library for classroom enjoyment.
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
Students who need inspiration and encouragement
5) Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
none
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
read aloud for fun
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
none
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
There is a listening tape with this book. I would use it in the learning center for listening.
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