The Gymnastics Book: The Young Performer's Guide to Gymnastics FROM THE PUBLISHER
An indispensable guide for beginners to artistic gymnastics, The Gymnastics Book is illustrated throughout with stunning full-color photographs of gymnasts swinging, balancing, tumbling and jumping. The medal-winning author-turned-instructor provides detailed guidance on:
- vault, rings, bars, beam, floor and trampoline
- how to find a good gymnastics club
- what qualities to look for in a coach
- nutrition and apparel
- warm-up and cool-down exercises
- moving into competitive gymnastics.
Filled with anecdotes and advice from past and present stars, such as Tim Daggett, Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, Curtis Hibbert and Yvonne Tousek among others, this is a no-holds-barred account of the life of a competitive gymnast.
Author Biography: As a competitive gymnast, Elfi Schlegel won two gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and a team gold and individual bronze at the 1979 Pan Am Games. She co-owns and operates a children's gymnastics center, and is a commentator for NBC.
Claire Ross Dunn is a freelance writer, a film producer and actor.
FROM THE CRITICS
Books for Growing Minds
An indispensable guide to the beginner's world of artistic gymnastics.
Children's Literature
This is mostly a how-to book, with explanations of proper form for vaults, hurdles, balance beam and the like. Schlegel, a former Olympian, stresses the value of hard work, family support, good health and, thankfully, both winning AND losing. In this era of fame at all costs, it is refreshing to read lines like, "Enjoying the sports of gymnastics is not about how many trophies line your mantel. It's about improving the quality of your life with a sport that you love." The book is illustrated with numerous color pictures of girls and boys demonstrating gymnastics moves. Coaches and gym teachers will find this a useful reference work; parents of kids interested in the sport might want to buy it to reinforce what the kids learn in class. 2001, Firefly Books, $24.95 and $15.95. Ages 6 up. Reviewer: Donna Freedman
School Library Journal
Gr 2-6-An excellent book in every way. The early chapters cover reasons to choose this sport and emphasize how its development of strength, flexibility, basics, and fitness will help readers excel in all other athletic pursuits and activities. There is a good section about getting started, choosing a club, and finding an instructor. The skills section is the biggest portion of the book, covering almost 60 pages and including lots of full-color photos. The pages on competition feature Olga Korbut, Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, and Vitaly Scherbo. Information on the importance of family and friends, the financial aspects, a typical day in the life of a competitive gymnast (Kim Zmeskal-Burdette), and two pages from a journal showing an average competitive training schedule are evidence of how complete this book is. Men's events are covered, too, with a glimpse at one of the few African-American males in the sport, Curtis Hibbert. Schlegel, an Olympic medalist, mentions what it's like to win and lose and the signs of real success. Best of all, the book is accessible to early readers. Superb coverage of a popular sport.-Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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