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Children's Nonfiction Olympics

Gold Medal for Weird

illustrated by Kevin Sylvester

Publisher
Kids Can Press
Initial publish date
Aug 2007
Category
Olympics, General
Recommended Age
7 to 11
Recommended Grade
2 to 6
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781554530212
    Publish Date
    Aug 2007
    List Price
    $7.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Out of print

This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.

Description

The world's greatest sporting events, chock-full of guts, glory and going for gold. If you want to read about that, you'd better look elsewhere. The gold medals handed out in this book are for inept athletes, shameful scandals, freakish weather, cheaters, chokers and much worse. But it's not all bad. You'll also read about athletes who went from chump to champ and warm your heart to stories of high-stakes heroism and fair play. There may still be hope for humans --- and sports competitions!

Read about • unbeatable runners who tested positive for turtle's blood and caterpillar fungus • the snowboarder whose hot-dog move cost her a gold medal • live animal hunting, dueling with pistols and other events now (thankfully) discontinued • a medal-winning gymnast with a wooden leg • the sailor who gave up a chance at the gold medal to save a drowning competitor

About the author

 

KEVIN SYLVESTER est auteur laure´at, illustrateur, journaliste, animateur de radio, re´alisateur et documentariste. Il a e´crit les livres de la se´rie MiNRS et Neil Flambe´, ainsi que les livres documentaires Gold Medal for Weird et Sports Hall of Weird. Kevin est reconnu pour son habilete´ de faire un souper dernie're minute avec ce qui est moindrement consommable dans son frigo. Il peut aussi transformer des cercles en chats et des cornets de cre'me glace´e en dragons. Kevin habite a' Toronto.

 

KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning writer, illustrator, reporter, radio sports host, producer and documentary maker. His books include the MiNRS and Neil Flambé series. Kevin's claims his superpower is that he can take a puck off the head and STILL finish a hockey game. He's also known for his ability to be able to make a last-second dinner from whatever smells reasonably edible in the fridge. And he can instantly turn circles into cats and ice cream cones into dragons. Well, cat and dragon cartoons anyway. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. Visit him online at www.kevinsylvester.online.

 

Kevin Sylvester's profile page

Awards

  • Winner, Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association
  • Short-listed, Diamond Willow Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice
  • Winner, Junior Library Guild Premier Selection

Editorial Reviews

It's not really a sports but a human nature report, and very funny.

Times-Colonist

Gold Medal for Weird is a fun book to read and to share

CM Magazine

Librarian Reviews

Gold Medal for Weird (Sports Starters)

All of the gold medals awarded in this book are for inept athletes, shameful scandals, freakish weather, cheaters, chokers and much worse. But it’s not all bad. Readers also discover athletes who went from chumps to champs. Includes black-and-white artwork.

Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. 2008.

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