Paula Yoo is an author and screenwriter whose children's books for Lee & Low include Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, Shining Star, and several titles in the Confetti Kids series. Her titles have been recognized by the International Reading Association, the Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist, and Lee & Low's New Voices Award. She and her husband live in Los Angeles, California, where she works in television. You can visit her online at paulayoo.com.
Dom Lee made his picture-book debut with Baseball Saved Us. He grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and went on to illustrate books in both the United States and Korea. His titles for Lee & Low include Ken Mochizuki's Passage to Freedom and Heroes, as well as the award-winning Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds. Lee's unique illustration style involves applying encaustic beeswax on paper, then scratching out images, and finally coloring the images with oil paint. Lee and his wife live in Hollis, New York.
* "This hero's inspirational story demonstrates determination and
dedication by a man who never gave up and is still an active
athlete today." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "In her first
picture book, winner of the publisher's New Voices Award, Yoo
introduces Sammy Lee, the son of Korean immigrants who overcame
formidable odds to become an Olympic diving champion, as well as a
doctor. . . the uncluttered images leave a deep impact. . . A page
of facts closes this handsome, inspiring biography, which will make
both an excellent read-aloud for younger children or a read-alone
for confident older ones." -- Booklist, starred review "This
inspirational biography recognizes the life of the first Asian
American to win an Olympic gold medal, at the 1948 Games in London.
. . Lee's painterly illustrations give texture and depth to the
full-page spreads. More than a story about discrimination and
unfair treatment, this story shows one young man's determination
and resolve toward accomplishing a goal in life." -- School Library
Journal "Yoo debuts with an inspiring tribute to the first
Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal. . . [A] motivational
tale." -- Publishers WeeklyBest Children's Books of the Year - Bank
Street College of Education
CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Comstock Read Aloud Book Award Honor - Minnesota State University
Moorhead
Notable Books for a Global Society - International Literacy
Association (ILA)
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People - National
Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Texas Bluebonnet Award Shortlist - Texas Library Association
(TLA)
William Allen White Children's Book Award - Emporia State
University
Yoo debuts with an inspiring tribute to the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1948. The story begins when Sammy is 12 years old in 1932 California and documents his struggle to reach the top of the diving world. The son of Korean immigrants, he is not allowed to swim at the public pool except on Wednesdays, "when people of color were allowed to go inside." The straightforward, somewhat lengthy account chronicles how Sammy trains by diving into a sandpit the other days of the week-which leads to a fortuitous decision to enroll in gymnastics to help him with his sand landings-finds, a coach, and makes peace with his father, who urges Sammy to forgo his Olympic dream in favor of becoming a doctor. Third-person omniscient narration grants readers access to Sammy's thoughts and feelings. As he prepares for his gold-medal dive, "He heard the sound of water lapping against the sides of the pool, the murmuring of the people, the beating of his heart." Lee's (Baseball Saved Us) sepia-tinged textured illustrations, made by scratching images out of wax melted over acrylic paints, lend a graceful, respectful tone to the story. Especially noteworthy are three vertical panels depicting his winning dive (an echo of an early three-panel spread that shows one of Sammy's awkward first diving attempts). Touching on themes of discrimination and determination, this motivational tale concludes with an author's note that provides details about Sammy's post-Olympic life. Ages 6-up. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
* "This hero's inspirational story demonstrates determination and dedication by a man who never gave up and is still an active athlete today." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "In her first picture book, winner of the publisher's New Voices Award, Yoo introduces Sammy Lee, the son of Korean immigrants who overcame formidable odds to become an Olympic diving champion, as well as a doctor. . . the uncluttered images leave a deep impact. . . A page of facts closes this handsome, inspiring biography, which will make both an excellent read-aloud for younger children or a read-alone for confident older ones." -- Booklist, starred review
"This inspirational biography recognizes the life of the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal, at the 1948 Games in London. . . Lee's painterly illustrations give texture and depth to the full-page spreads. More than a story about discrimination and unfair treatment, this story shows one young man's determination and resolve toward accomplishing a goal in life." -- School Library Journal
"Yoo debuts with an inspiring tribute to the first
Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal. . . [A] motivational
tale." -- Publishers WeeklyNotable Books for a Global Society,
International Literacy Association (ILA)
Books Reflecting Diversity: - A Look Into a Wilder World, Bank
Street College Children's Book Committee
Children's Book Award Notable, International Literacy Association
(ILA)
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, National
Council for the Social Studies / Children's Book Council
Outstanding, The Horn BookTexas Bluebonnet Masterlist, Texas
Library Association (TLA)
California Collections, California Readers
Comstock Book Award Honor, Minnesota State University Moorhead
William Allen White Masterlist, Emporia State University,
Kansas
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