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abigailbat's review
3.0
Born in 1875 in Sweden and emigrated to the United States in 1889, Tillie was a girl without an American Dream... until she spied some people riding bicycles and she longed to be out there riding with them. In Tillie's day it wasn't proper for a woman to compete in athletic competitions, but Tillie couldn't be stopped. She went on to set numerous bike racing records, despite the odds stacked against her.
Bright art in yellows, reds, and blues compliments this upbeat story of a strong woman who wouldn't give up her dreams - even when they scandalized her friends and family. A timeline of Tillie's racing career and an author's note are included in the back of the book. Some references are briefly mentioned in a tiny acknowledgments note by the copyright information. Pair this one with Fearless: The Story of Racing Legend Louise Smith by Barb Rosenstock.
Bright art in yellows, reds, and blues compliments this upbeat story of a strong woman who wouldn't give up her dreams - even when they scandalized her friends and family. A timeline of Tillie's racing career and an author's note are included in the back of the book. Some references are briefly mentioned in a tiny acknowledgments note by the copyright information. Pair this one with Fearless: The Story of Racing Legend Louise Smith by Barb Rosenstock.
jengennari's review
4.0
This is the story of Tillie Anderson, one of many women who took to bike racing in the late 1890s and 1900s. I found out about her through reading Sue Macy's book on Wheels of Change. Amazing stories of women biking in velodromes in Six-Day races (for about 3 hours per day). This story is nicely told, covering the story of bloomers and including the famous quote from Susan B. Anthony about bicycling emancipating women.
That said, I was surprised that the illustrations felt frilly and feminine, a choice that is accurate (it was the Victorian era) though unimaginative.
That said, I was surprised that the illustrations felt frilly and feminine, a choice that is accurate (it was the Victorian era) though unimaginative.
nerfherder86's review
4.0
Cute biography in picture book format about Tillie Anderson, who became a bicycle racing champion and a sensation in the 1890's, when it was still rare and scandalous for women to ride bikes. Tillie made her own bicycling clothing, so that she didn't have to wear a skirt on a bike, and raced in speed and endurance competitions against other women worldwide. I liked the humorous nature of the story, how Tillie was contrary to her family, and the illustrations are detailed and stylized like nineteenth century pictures. Nice book to give girls to show the history of women in America and how things have changed.
wordnerd153's review
4.0
What a delightful, fascinating and inspiring biography! I had never heard of Tillie Anderson and now I am so glad I know about her.
katiegrrrl's review
4.0
Tillie was tired of riding her bike side saddle, it is such an inefficiency way to ride. As a seamstress she can up with an outfit that allowed to ride and ride fast! She didn't mind that the outfit was scandalous in her time. she began racing and winning.
I really like all these bios that are coming out about women both well known and lost in history.
I really like all these bios that are coming out about women both well known and lost in history.
cweichel's review
4.0
Tillie was not only inspiring and amazing in her time, she would also be a pretty impressive woman if she were alive today. Her accomplishments, being a woman bike racer at a time when this was not an acceptable past time for women, are what make her story memorable!
mmattmiller's review
5.0
Great story to empower young girls! Another true story I never knew, but wish I had! I would have loved this as a young girl! Another to add to my classroom library!
canadianbookworm's review
3.0
This picture book is about an immigrant girl who came to the United States with a dream. When she arrived she found a job in a tailor shop and waited. One day, she saw a man ride past the shop on a bicycle and knew she wanted to ride one too. But women didn't ride bikes back then (the 1890s), it wasn't considered a ladylike thing to do. She persisted and began racing, and winning races too.
This is the story of the sudden expansion in popularity of bicycling at the time, and of women's rights, and of the history-making behaviour of Tillie. The drawing are simple, colourful and fun and fit the story well. A good one.
This is the story of the sudden expansion in popularity of bicycling at the time, and of women's rights, and of the history-making behaviour of Tillie. The drawing are simple, colourful and fun and fit the story well. A good one.
bookishheather's review
5.0
Glorious story! Vibrant art!
Sadly, I finished this delicious book wanting just a little more.
Readers like me could benefit from a more prominent biographical paragraph about the real-life Tillie Anderson, who I was not familiar with before perusing this title. There is a little more information in the seven-point-type acknowledgments, but I would have preferred to see a 50 to 100 word paragraph with the back endpaper that feature highlights of her racing career. In other words, a great story for sure, but I wanted to know more about the woman who inspired it.
The illustrations are lovely. I'd love to hang much of the art on my walls as an every day reminder of the empowerment the bicycle has given to women for over a hundred years. And to take daily inspiration from it. Particular favorites include Tillie's mother being "horrified!" and the fuddy-duddy men on the last page watching Tillie drive away, expressing horror at a woman using a motorcar.
Read it! Live it! Love it!
Sadly, I finished this delicious book wanting just a little more.
Readers like me could benefit from a more prominent biographical paragraph about the real-life Tillie Anderson, who I was not familiar with before perusing this title. There is a little more information in the seven-point-type acknowledgments, but I would have preferred to see a 50 to 100 word paragraph with the back endpaper that feature highlights of her racing career. In other words, a great story for sure, but I wanted to know more about the woman who inspired it.
The illustrations are lovely. I'd love to hang much of the art on my walls as an every day reminder of the empowerment the bicycle has given to women for over a hundred years. And to take daily inspiration from it. Particular favorites include Tillie's mother being "horrified!" and the fuddy-duddy men on the last page watching Tillie drive away, expressing horror at a woman using a motorcar.
Read it! Live it! Love it!
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