Gymnastics Routine Takeover

Kids Sports Stories

by Dionna L. Mann

Bre has always planned the gymnastics club routine she and Isabel perform together for Family Night, so initially she is resentful when Coach Chrissy adds Yadana to their group and Isabel favors Yadana's idea to use music from her home country, India, but as Bre listens to the music, something changes. Includes glossary and directions for making a gymnastics ribbon.

Genres: Sports

32 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2022

About the author

Dionna L. Mann is an independent researcher and children’s book author who loves uncovering human-interest stories hidden within African-American history. As a work for hire author, she's written for Scholastic Press, Lerner, and Capstone, among others. Her debut novel, MAMA’S CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS, will publish with Margaret Ferguson Books, an imprint of Holiday House.

Reviews

[Kathy Fernandez]

Gymnastics Routine Takeover by Dionna L Mann and illustrated by Amanda Erb is a contemporary realistic fiction book. I have given it five stars for its authorial content and illustrations. This children’s literature book is recommended for ages 4 to 9 years of age.
In Summary this book deals with friendships. It’s about a friendship of long standing. Why is it that three young eight-year-old gymnastics cannot all be friends. Bre and Isabel were friends for several years. They even attended gymnastics together and performed in the annual family performance together for years. Then along comes Yadana. Yadana is the new gymnast and the coach assigns Yadana to join Bre and Isabel in the annual family performance practices. Bre gets very upset with this change. She liked things as they were before Yadana joined Bre and herself. Why can’t three young girls initially be friends? This story has its ups and downs about gymnastics and friendships. It involves the annual family performance as Yadana has new dances she had performed in India before she came to the states with her family. Bre was open to the idea of new things. Isabel had a bad attitude about the new dances and the new music. However, once she tried the dances, practiced them to the new music several times she enjoyed them. She gave the new gymnast’s ideas a chance. They all became friends thereafter. This is definitely a lesson to be learned that change can be good. The book is easy to read and the language is understandable. I would highly recommend this book. The illustrations are realistic and fun

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when your team of two becomes three? In physics this is known as the tree body problem, and it’s known to cause chaos. Bre and her BFF Isable have been participating in gymnastics club for three years when the coach adds a new girl to their team routine she and Isabel perform together for Family Night, so initially she is resentful when Coach Chrissy adds Yadana, the new girl from India to their team. Yadana has some new things she’d like to use for their upcoming performance at Family night, and Isable likes the idea. But Bre does not, until she’s encouraged to give it a try.

Mann’s tale of overcoming resentment and adapting to change paired with Erb’s colorful and cheerful illustrations provides young readers with useful skills for conflict resolution.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bre and Isabel have been tight friends on the gymnastic team who always did a routine together for Family Night. But Coach put Yadana with them for their routine this year. Bre is upset about Yadana joining them. Trying to figure out their rhythmic routine together is proving very hard. Bre wants things her way, but can she learn to adjust and work as a team member?

Change is hard. Bre is no different from many of us when unexpected changes come our way. Hopefully kids can learn from Bre's mistakes and how she eventually makes things right to handle their own changes better. I like that this story features rhythmic gymnastics as I don't think we have any other books featuring that sport.