Kara's Reviews > Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist

At the turn of the 20th century, "Major" Marshall Taylor was the fastest cyclist in the world. In this picture book biography, Lesa Cline-Ransom and James E. Ransome recreate Taylor's journey from a bicycle shop stunt boy to a world champion who battled racism by winning races.

Major Taylor's name should be on any list of American sports heroes and notable African-Americans in history. Today a network of cycling clubs across the U.S. bear his name but few outside those groups know his story. This book is a good starting point for bringing Taylor's legacy to the fore, though the word count could definitely be pared down and the language punched up.