A spirited picture book biography about Althea Gibson, the first black Wimbledon, French, and U.S. Open tennis champion, from debut author Megan Reid and Coretta Scott King Honor-winning illustrator Laura Freeman.
Althea Gibson was the quickest, tallest, most fearless athlete in 1940s Harlem. She couldn´t sit still! When she put her mind to it, the fleet-of-foot girl reigned supreme at every sport-stickball with the boys, basketball with the girls, paddle tennis with anyone who would hit with her.
But being the quickest, tallest, most fearless player in Harlem wasn´t enough for Althea. She knew she could be a tennis champion.
Because of segregation, black people weren´t allowed to compete against white people in sports. Althea didn´t care. She just wanted to play tennis against the best athletes in the world. And with skill and determination, she did just that, eventually becoming the first black person-man or woman-to win a trophy at Wimbledon.
Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis´ Fleet-of-Foot Girl chronicles this trailblazing athlete´s journey-and the talent, force of spirit, and energy that made it possible for her to break barriers and ascend to the top of the tennis world.