ReedALOUD: Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon

I am enamored with this book.

Maybe it's because its a local story. 

Maybe its because I'm a runner. 

 Maybe its because the narrative and art.

Most likely, its because of the narrative and art.

In Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon,  Annette Bay Pimentel and Micha Archer have created a moving and inspiring story of the first female runner of the Boston Marathon. A runner who was not recognized for her accomplishments until 30 years later, when she was officially recognized as the female winner of the 1966, 1967, and 1968 marathons, but more on that later. 

This book.

Before I share more about the book, look at the thinking my fourth graders did after our read aloud. You know a book hits the mark when, on the spot, these are their reactions. Their ability to pull personality traits and verbally remember the evidence from the text is indicative of its powerful message.

I read Girl Running and create, with the students, an exemplar for the project they will be engaged in over the next few weeks. The project will culminate in a Google slide show for a picture book biography from our library. 

Back to the book!

Annette Bay Pimentel's narrative is concise yet packs an emotional punch. We readers feel what Bobbi feels - her determination, anger, anticipation, confidence. Micha Archer's art is stunning in its detail and ability to convey Bobbi's emotions. We know where she is and what she is doing and we also know how she feels about it. Check it out:

This longing that we see as Bobbi looks out the window.

Bobbi's joy running in the woods in the fall.

This early spring scene is just as it feels. 

My legs also twitch each time I watch the Marathon, 

but I have never been brave enough to try. 

I am so impressed by Bobbi's courage.

Nursing shoes! Disapproving stares. She is unstoppable. 

These houses!

So much love for this Volkswagen.

The coast, hills, cornfields, and mountains 

help readers understand Bobbi's journey.

The narrative and art radiates with Bobbi's anger and frustration.

We readers hold our breath.

This right here. Courage. Determination.

These pages show the importance of support.

We barely need Pimentel's narrative, 

but it is so strong and conveys more than just these amazing radiating steps of pain.

I love that the people are a blur, 

whereas earlier on the course they were identifiable. 

From my friends who have run, 

this is what they say it feels like when you finish.

This feels like the ideal ending to this book. 

It's not just about Bobbi, 

it's about the girls and women she inspired and encouraged to run.

Daniel Finds a Poem...and then, so do my students

My first graders and I have been exploring writing with the five senses. I recently shared with them my theory around why National Poetry Month falls in April, which is that our poetic senses get reawakened as the earth reawakens from a long winter nap. Of course my theory is flawed on many levels, the least of which is that not all areas of the country experience this same phenomenon. My theory does allow me to then brainstorm with the students the signs of spring that they are experiencing through their five senses. 

As part of the unit, we read Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer. The students enjoyed this lovely book about a young boy learning about poetry from different animals. It's a gentle story that awakens the reader's senses to the beauty of the natural world.  The students wanted to read the story again, in part because the illustrations are poetry themselves and deserve to be poured over. 

The students finished this particular lesson by thinking about how they were experiencing poetic moments with their five senses this spring. 

Feeling the warm sun 

Looking at the sun...

Tasting refreshing lemonade

Hearing baby chicks


Smelling flowers


Here are more of their poetic experiences:

Thanks for the inspiration, Micha!