Girls with Guts!: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records [Hardcover]

Celebrate women athletes who played all kinds of sports before Title IX finally allowed them to compete in the Olympics, tournaments, and in leagues across America.

No chasing! No stretching or straining! And never, ever sweat. These were the rules girls were forced to play by until Title IX passed in 1972. From Melpomene in 1896 to Althea Gibson in 1956 and beyond, readers will meet the women athletes who refused to take no for an answer. Learn how they paved the way for the women who pushed for a law to protect their right to play, compete, and be athletes.Gonzales describes the days when girls were discouraged from participating in sports, then introduces women who challenged society's narrow expectations regarding girls' athletics. After early nods to women excluded from the ancient and early modern Olympics, the text introduces a series of American women in sports, such as Gertrude Ederle swimming the English Channel in 1926 and Althea Gibson winning the French Open tennis tournament in 1956. Meanwhile, women marched for equal rights and congresswomen worked for new laws, culminating in Title IX, which created a more level playing field for girls and women in school sports. While the historical section of the text might challenge primary-grade children at times, a very accessible illustrated page opens and closes the book with these encouraging words, Look at you ... springing, / kicking, / dribbling / and pitching it down the pike. / Girl, you are amazing! Created with acrylic, ink, and color pencils, the stylized artwork defines each historical period and maintains a buoyant tone throughout the book. A colorful, historical introduction to American women in sports.
—Booklist

In 2019, young girls look up to athletes like Olympic-medalist Simone Biles and the record-breaking Serena Williams as role models. But not that long ago, women athletes werl3-