100 Best Gymnastics Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best gymnastics books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

Featuring recommendations from Marc Andreessen, Yuval Noah Harari, Sheryl Sandberg, and 9 other experts.
1
Simone Biles’ entrance into the world of gymnastics may have started on a daycare field trip in her hometown of Spring, Texas, but her God-given talent, passion, and perseverance have made her one of the top gymnasts in the world, as well as a four-time winner of Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro.

But there is more to Simone than the nineteen medals—fourteen of them gold—and the Olympic successes. Through years of hard work and determination, she has relied on her faith and family to stay focused and positive, while having fun competing at the highest level and doing what she loves....
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2

Grace, Gold, and Glory My Leap of Faith

The inspiring autobiography from Gabrielle Douglas—the first African-American gymnast in Olympic history to become the individual All-Around champion—revealing her journey from the time she first entered a gym to her gold-medal-winning performances.

In the 2012 London Olympics, US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner and the brightest star of the US gold-medal-winning women’s gymnastics team. That same year, Gabrielle was also named the 2012 Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports...
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3
Discover Aly Raisman's inspiring story of dedication, perseverance, and learning to think positive even in the toughest times on her path to gold medal success in two Olympic Games--and beyond.

Aly Raisman first stepped onto a gymnastics mat as a toddler in a "mommy & me" gymnastics class. No one could have predicted then that sixteen years later, she'd be standing on an Olympic podium, having achieved her dreams.

Aly's road to success was full of hard work, perseverance, and victories, but not without its hardships. Aly faced many obstacles, from naysayers...
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4
The inspiring story of a pint-size American gymnast with a big smile and an even bigger heart.

You’ve seen her perform gravity-defying gymnastics moves. You’ve seen her win Olympic medals in Beijing and the coveted mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars. You’ve also seen her land on her feet—with her trademark smile—even when things haven’t gone her way.
Despite achieving more success and celebrity in her first two decades than most people experience in a lifetime, things haven’t been easy for Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. Her first gymnastics coach told her...
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5
ECPA 2020 Christian Book Award Finalist!

Written by Rachael Denhollander, recipient of Sports Illustrated's Inspiration of the Year Award and one of Time's 100 Most Influential People (2018)

"Who is going to tell these little girls that what was done to them matters? That they are seen and valued, that they are not alone and they are not unprotected?"

Rachael Denhollander's voice was heard around the world when she spoke out to end the most shocking US gymnastics scandal in history. The first victim to publicly accuse...
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6
A lost friend, a new love, and a town full of secrets... One night in the town of Hell, Ariel's best friend goes missing. Those around her believe Jenna ran away, but when Ariel is tormented by nightmares and paranormal activity, she realizes Jenna's disappearance was part of a bigger mystery. Ariel's obsession with haunted houses and horror movies makes her the perfect detective.

But to complicate matters, a handsome newcomer named Henry Rhodes plagues her with unwanted attention. Though he doesn't believe in the supernatural events, she enlists his help and that of quirky nerd...
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7

Off Balance

In this searing and riveting New York Times bestseller, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu reveals the dark underbelly of Olympic gymnastics, the true price of success…and the shocking secret about her past and her family that she only learned years later.

At fourteen years old, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team, the first and only American women’s team to take gold at the Olympics. Her pixyish appearance and ferocious competitive drive quickly earned her the status of media darling. But behind the fame, the...
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8

I Got This

To Gold and Beyond

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller!

Now in paperback with Laurie's beloved pump-up playlist, favorite movies, top travel tips, best Olympic memories, and more!

Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars champion Laurie Hernandez shares her story in her own words in this debut book for fans of all ages—with never-before-seen photos!

At sixteen years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true—and yet it’s only the...
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9
The inside story of how serial predator Larry Nassar got away with abusing hundreds of gymnasts for decades--and how a team of brave women banded together to bring him down.

We think of Larry Nassar as the despicable sexual predator of Olympic gymnasts--but there is an astonishing, untold story. For decades, in a small-town gym in Michigan, he honed his manipulations on generations of aspiring gymnasts: kids from the neighborhood, girls with hopes of a college scholarship, athletes and parents with a dream. In The Girls, these brave women for the first time describe...
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Recommended by Sree Sreenivasan Powerwomensummit, and 1 others.

Sree Sreenivasan PowerwomensummitContinuing my 🧵 in praise of @AbigailPesta’s book... Get one everyone! And join me, @neilparekh, @biggreenpen Sunday from 8:30-10 am ET as she does our #NYTReadalong. We’ll discuss the 🗞 as well as her 📚 on my @facebook Live. Will be awesome! https://t.co/TrULGDfCKj https://t.co/qDvaXfqOUw (Source)

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10
From starvation diets and debilitating injuries to the brutal tactics of tyrannical gymnastics guru Bela Karolyi, Little Girls in Pretty Boxes portrays the horrors endured by girls at the hands of their coaches and sometimes their own families. An acclaimed expose that has already helped reform Olympic sports—now updated to reflect the latest developments in women's gymnastics and figure skating—it continues to plead for sanity, safety, and an end to our national obsession: winning at any cost. less

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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
11

Letters to a Young Gymnast

A unique glimpse into the remarkable life, and fascinating mindset, of the woman who broke records-and boundaries-for female athletes everywhere less

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12
The true story of the 1986 U.S. National Gymnastics champion whose lifelong dream was to compete in the Olympics, until anorexia, injuries, and coaching abuses nearly destroyed her

Fanciful dreams of gold medals and Nadia Comaneci led Jennifer Sey to become a gymnast at the age of six. She was a natural at the sport, and her early success propelled her family to sacrifice everything to help her become, by age eleven, one of America’s elite,competing at prestigious events worldwide alongside such future gymnastics’ luminaries as Mary Lou Retton.
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13
Highly acclaimed UCLA Women's gymnastics coach of 7 NCAA championships Valorie Kondos Field shares insights on how to use uniqueness and authenticity to achieve success.

Former professional ballerina Valorie Kondos Field--or Miss Val, as she's affectionately known--has never tumbled, flipped, or even played any type of organized sports, and yet she has been able to craft a legendary coaching career through curiosity, creativity, attention to detail, and unwavering care for the overall well-being of her athletes. For Miss Val, it's not about winning and losing, it's about...
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14
In this fascinating new autobiography, Kerri Strug comes to life as the brave young gymnast who struggled for years in the shadow of flashier athletes, then secured her place in the Olympic pantheon for her brilliant success under fire. less

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15
A “delightful and insightful” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the controversial world of gymnastics and its scoring system, which has propelled powerful and athletic American gymnasts to the top of the sport.

It was the team finals of women’s gymnastics in the 2012 London Olympics and McKayla Maroney was on top of her game. The sixteen-year-old US gymnast was performing arguably the best vault of all time, launching herself unimaginably high into the air and sticking a flawless landing. But when her score came, many were baffled: 16.233. Three tenths of a point in...
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16
"When the odds were against me, I was always at my best."

When she retired at age 19, Shannon Miller did so as one of the most recognizable gymnasts in the country. The winner of seven Olympic medals and the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in U.S. history, Shannon tells a story of surviving and thriving. A shy, rambunctious girl raised in Oklahoma, Shannon fell in love with gymnastics at a young age and fought her way to the top.

In 1992 she won five Olympic medals after breaking her elbow in a training accident just months prior to the...
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17

I've Got This!

The Perfect Balance Gymnastics Series is a children's chapter book series. Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books teach girls to be kind to each other, flexible in life, courageous, strong, and most of all, confident. The books set the reader in the world of gymnastics. The characters are relatable and have age appropriate challenges. Each book explores a major life lesson that empowers girls to understand their own inner strengths. less

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18

McKenna, Ready to Fly!

When Seattle fourth-grader McKenna Brooks’ cast comes off she dives back into gymnastics training in hopes of making the competitive team, but after volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding center, she considers broadening her interests.

After McKenna suffers an injury that causes her to worry about her place on the Shooting Star competitive gymnastics team, she tries to help her tutor, Josie, overcome her fear of horseback riding, but as McKenna and Josie become closer friends, one of McKenna's teammates gets jealous.
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19

Break the Fall

Audrey Lee is going to the Olympics.

A year ago, she could barely do a push up as she recovered from a spine surgery, one that could have paralyzed her. And now? She's made the United States' gymnastics team with her best friend, Emma, just like they both dreamed about since they were kids. She's on top of the world.

The pressure for perfection is higher than ever when horrifying news rips the team apart. Audrey is desperate to advocate for her teammate who has been hurt by the one person they trusted most--but not all the gymnasts are as supportive.

With the...
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20
‘The best political book of the year’ Andrew Marr

‘A superb work of storytelling and reporting. Sets new benchmark for the writing of contemporary political history’ Andrew Sparrow, Guardian

The only book to tell the full story of how and why Britain voted to leave the EU.


Based on unrivalled access to all the key politicians and their advisors – including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, George Osborne, Nigel Farage and Dominic Cummings, the mastermind of Vote Leave – Tim Shipman has written a political history that reads like a thriller, and...
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Marc AndreessenInside story of how Britain decided to exit the EU. Economic self-destruction or national liberation? Repercussions to play out for decades. (Source)

Boris StarlingAll Out War is brilliant. It’s one of the best political books I’ve ever read. It’s 200,000 words and he wrote it in something like ten weeks. Just to produce that amount of words that quickly and for it to be so good is really phenomenal. There’s the old cliche about journalism being the first draft of history. This really is. (Source)

Andrew HindmoorAll Out War and Fallout are consummate insider accounts of the politics of the last few years. These are events we’re still living through, and the third book in the trilogy will be out later this year. Both are really substantive books that I give to my students. They’re very long and very detailed, not lightweight books by any means. He’s got this amazing capacity to marshal the minutiae of... (Source)

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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
21

You Will Know Me

Katie and Eric Knox have dedicated their lives to their fifteen-year-old daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful. But when a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community just weeks before an all-important competition, everything the Knoxes have worked so hard for feels suddenly at risk. As rumors swirl among the other parents, revealing hidden plots and allegiances, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself drawn, irresistibly, to the crime itself, and the dark corners it threatens to illuminate. From a writer with... more

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22

Finding My Shine

Nastia Liukin is an Olympic gymnastics all-around gold medalist, but the road to her success was not an easy one. In Finding My Shine, she shares not only her personal journey of success, but also her biggest challenges, including her career ending fall during the 2012 Olympic Trials that she now says was the defining moment of her life. Throughout this book, she delivers her motivational tips toward reaching any goal, overcoming obstacles, and learning how to pick yourself up after the inevitable falls you will have in life. Nastia's story is a true American dream. Born in Moscow, Russia,... more

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23

Finding Our Balance (2016, #1)

When 15-year-old newcomer Amalia Blanchard makes a splash with her beam routine in front of the entire U.S. national team, veterans like Ruby Spencer—whose 2012 Olympic dreams were dashed due to an injury just a month before the Games—and Emerson Bedford—a two-time world champion set to run the show in Rio—start to take notice. With preliminary competitions to get through before the team trials, all three have something to prove, as Emerson struggles to maintain her queen bee status, Ruby tries to show everyone she is still a contender, and Amalia hopes she has what it takes to stand out in a... more

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24

McKenna

Ten-year-old McKenna has always been a good student-and great at gymnastics. So when her grades suddenly begin to fall, her teacher suggests a little extra help from a tutor. McKenna is horrified until she meets her tutor, Josie, a super-confident girl who also happens to be in a wheelchair. Josie encourages McKenna to focus on her strengths and work toward her goals one day at a time. But just as McKenna begins to shine in school, she's sidelined with a gymnastics injury--and her confidence unravels. Now she's worried about her grades and earning a spot on the competitive gymnastics team.... more

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25

The Flip Side

Charlie Ryland has a secret.

She may seem like your average high school sophomore—but she’s just really good at pretending.

Because outside of school Charlie spends all her waking hours training to become one of the best gymnasts in the world. And it’s not easy flying under the radar when you’re aiming for Olympic gold…especially when an irresistible guy comes along and threatens to throw your whole world off balance.
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26

Go-for-Gold Gymnasts Bind-up

Read the first two books in the Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series together in this bind-up edition, along with an introduction from three-time World All-Around champion Simone Biles! In WINNING TEAM, twelve-year-old Brittany Lee Morgan is the best. Or, at least she was at her gymnastics training gym in Ohio. But when her family moves to Texas for a world-class facility, Britt is suddenly a zero in the eyes of her new teammates. The other girls-graceful Christina, perfect Noelle, and quiet Jessie-aren't exactly excited by the arrival of the pint-sized powerhouse. Especially since... more

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27
The definitive, devastating account of the largest sex abuse scandal in American sports history-with new details and insights into the institutional failures, as well as the bravery that brought it to light.

Start by Believing reveals the win-at-all-costs culture in elite athletics and higher education that enabled a quarter century of heinous crimes. For decades, osteopathic physician Larry Nassar built a sterling reputation as the go-to doctor for America's Olympians while treating countless others at his office on Michigan State University's campus. It was largely...
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28

Tumbling

Five gymnasts. One goal.

Grace lives and breathes gymnastics—but no matter how hard she pushes herself, she can never be perfect enough.

Leigh, Grace’s best friend, has it all: a gymnastics career, a normal high-school life…and a secret that could ruin everything.

Camille wants to please her mom, wants to please her boyfriend, and most of all, wants to walk away.

Wilhelmina was denied her Olympic dream four years ago, and she won’t let anything stop her again. No matter what.

Monica is terrified....
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29

Gymnastics Jitters

Dana and the rest of the Raiders gymnastics team must learn how to deal with their biggest rivals, the Superiors. When the Superiors don't play fair, the Raiders learn a valuable lesson in sportsmanship. Over 2 million copies have been sold in the bestselling Jake Maddox chapter book series. less

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30

She's Got This

A New York Times bestseller!

From gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnast and bestselling author Laurie Hernandez comes a picture book about chasing your dreams and never giving up.

Even Olympians have to start somewhere. And in this charming illustrated book, Laurie Hernandez tells the story of Zoe, a little girl who dreams of flying—and becoming a gymnast.

When Zoe sees a gymnast on TV, she realizes that gymnastics is just like flying. But when she first goes to class and falls off the balance beam, she discovers that...
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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
31

Gold Medal Summer

Joey Jordan loves gymnastics: the thrill of performing a backflip on the beam, the cheers of the audience when she sticks a landing. But even with all her talent and style, she's never quite made it to that gold medal stand.

Now big changes shake up Joey's life in and out of the gym. Joey wants to break out some daring new beam and floor routines--but she'll have to defy her strict coach to do it. Her best friend, Alex, is thinking about quitting gymnastics for good. And an old friend named Tanner just moved back to town, and he's suddenly gotten very, very cute. Can Joey handle...
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32

Chirp

From acclaimed author Kate Messner comes the powerful story of a young girl with the courage to make her voice heard, set against the backdrop of a summertime mystery.

When Mia moves to Vermont the summer after seventh grade, she's recovering from the broken arm she got falling off a balance beam. And packed away in the moving boxes under her clothes and gymnastics trophies is a secret she'd rather forget.

Mia's change in scenery brings day camp, new friends, and time with her beloved grandmother. But Gram is convinced someone is trying to destroy her cricket...
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33

Mind Gym

An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence

Drawing on his work with some of the top teams in professional sports, noted sport psychology consultant Gary Mack shares with you the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." These 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes will help you gain the "head edge" over the competition.

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Recommended by Michael Gervais, and 1 others.

Michael GervaisOne of the books I often give away is Mind Gym by Gary Mack. It’s a very mechanical, easy, lots-of-white-space-on-the-page book. And it’s one of my favourites, a very applied synopsis of mental skills from a sport and performance psychology standpoint. (Source)

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34
Notebook Doodles Go Girl! isn't "just another" kid coloring book--it's designed specifically for the design-savvy TWEEN who thinks kids books are too juvenile and mom's adult coloring books are too, well...adult! Inside this book, youthful readers will discover 30 interactive art activities that are just waiting to be filled with color. They will also find a coloring art lesson, 20 inspiring color palettes, 8 pages of colored examples, and inspiring quotes to go with every design. Watercolors, colored pencils, markers, crayons, and gel pens will all look stunning on high-quality,... more

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35

Courage to Fly

Trista Thompson is enjoying a fun summer before entering 5th grade. She is training for Level 5 at Perfect Balance Gymnastics Academy and gets to attend a gymnastics camp with her friends. For the first time in her gymnastics career she is learning her new skills in plenty of time for testing day at the end of summer.
Just when Trista feels great about her progress, she has a major setback. Can she overcome her challenges and fears to reach her goal of making the Level 5 team?
Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books teach girls to be kind to each other, flexible in life, courageous,...
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36

I Broke Into Gymnastics Camp

Kenzie is so excited to get started at gymnastics camp that she breaks the lock on the gym door. When one of the coaches discovers that it is broken, she decides to cancel camp for the day. Will Kenzie ruin it for everyone, or will she admit that she broke into gymnastics camp? less

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37

Amour Amour (Aerial Ethereal, #1)

Love is a circus

"Every day,” he says lowly, “I hold a person’s life in my hands. The circus is based one-hundred percent off trust. I give it all to someone, and they give it all to me.”

The best aerial technique won’t land 21-year-old Thora James her dream role in Amour—a sexy new acrobatic show on the Vegas strip. Thora knows she’s out of her element the second she meets Amour’s leading performer. Confident, charming and devilishly captivating, 26-year-old Nikolai Kotova lives up to his nickname as the “God of Russia.”

When Thora unknowingly...
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38

Gemma the Gymnastics Fairy

The Sports Fairies' magical items are missing, and now the Fairy Olympics are going all wrong! This is our ninth group of Rainbow Magic fairies; all seven books will be released at once.
It's an exciting time in Fairyland. Everyone is getting ready for the Fairy Olympics! But Jack Frost's goblins have stolen the Sports Fairies' magic objects. Now they're threatening to take over the whole competition!
Gemma the Gymnastics Fairy's magic hoop is missing. Do Kirsty and Rachel have all the right moves to get it back? Or will the goblins trip them up?
Find the enchanted object in...
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39

Winning Team

Twelve-year-old Brittany Lee Morgan is the best. Or, at least she was at her gymnastics training gym in Ohio. But when her family moves to Texas for a world-class facility, Britt is suddenly a zero in the eyes of her new teammates. The other girls-graceful Christina, perfect Noelle, and quiet Jessie-aren't exactly excited by the arrival of the pint-sized powerhouse. Especially since Britt has a way of saying the wrong thing at all the wrong times. But, Britt's not scared of a challenge: she's an Elite Gymnast, and she didn't get there without taking some major risks. She's determined to... more

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40
FROM THE AUTHOR OF BEST-SELLING BOOKS "ALL YOU NEED IS A PULL UP BAR" AND "HOW TO SCULPT A GREEK GOD MARBLE CHEST WITH PUSH-UPS"
- Slim waist

- Visible abs

- Round shoulders

- V-shaped defined back

- Visible muscular chest

- Muscular and vascular arms

- Nicely shaped muscular legs

These are the key characteristics of an aesthetic calisthenic's physique that Bodyweight Muscle focuses on developing...


This book is the result of years of research and self-experimentation...
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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
41
Savannah has an exciting day coming up. Her first gymnastics meet followed by her teammate’s birthday party.

Except Savannah can’t seem to stay on beam in practice and she doesn’t feel ready for the meet. Then she finds out she has been invited to another birthday party the same day as Marissa’s. All of a sudden the big day she has been looking forward to for weeks is full of problems. How is she going to perform in the meet and which party should she choose?

The Perfect Balance Gymnastics Series is a children's chapter book series. The series teaches girls to be kind...
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42
Two-year-old Rachel Haines didn’t know that she would be committing to twenty-one years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance as she jumped into the foam pit during her first “mommy and me” gymnastics class. She had no idea that one day she would become a two-time National Team Member, two-time National Champion, and a Division I college gymnast at the University of Minnesota. Nor could she have known that she had just signed herself up for serious injury, emotional distress, and continuous sexual assault by world-renowned trainer turned serial molester, Larry Nassar.

In...
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43

Nadia

The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still

Nadia Comaneci was a feisty and fearless little girl who went from climbing trees in the forests of Romania to swinging into history at the 1976 Olympic Games, where she received an unprecedented seven perfect scores in gymnastics. But as readers will see in this first-ever illustrated picture book about Nadia’s journey to Olympic gold, the road from small-town girl to world-class athlete was full of many imperfect moments.
     Expert illustrations that capture the energy and fluidity of Nadia's exuberant gymnastic routines and referential back matter round out this...
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44

The Kip

Marissa is a gymnast, violinist, and chess player. This summer she is busy in an orchestra, chess tournament, and learning her Level 4 gymnastics skills. In the past, doing all three activities has been a snap for Marissa. She is hardworking and smart. But this summer she can't seem to get her kip, a difficult skill on bars. If she doesn't learn a kip she won't be competing Level 4 in the fall with her friends at Perfect Balance Gymnastics Academy. As the summer progresses, it's not looking good. Everyone else is getting their kip except for Marissa. What will she do if her friends move on... more

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45

Infini (Aerial Ethereal, #2)

Some love is infinite

"Don’t have a best friend that’s a girl" — this was the advice from my older cousin. I didn’t take it. Because he followed with, "friends don’t f*ck friends. And you’ll want to f*ck her."

It was terrible advice.

My cousin should’ve told me that being best friends with Baylee Wright — since she was twelve — would be the best and worst decision of my life.

He should have told me to protect her from what was coming.

He should have told me that when a darkness crawled towards us, there’d be no...
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46
Five girls. Four events. And only one gold medal.

Floor routine. Uneven bars. Vault. And balance beam.

90 seconds. 75 seconds. 7 seconds. 90 seconds.

In gymnastics, your best friends are your biggest rivals. And the Bellevue Kips are feeling the pressure. Everyone wants to win best all-around gymnast at Optionals and State finals, but only one girl goes home with gold. Who will it be?

Nadia: Gymnastics royalty. Beam is her event. Gold is in her DNA. But how far is she willing to go to win?

Bethany: Best on floor. Worst on vault. Does...
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47

Blind Landing (Flipped #1)

Fear stops dreams in their tracks before they even have a chance. Then again, so do injuries.

Natalia Grekov was born to win a gold medal. As the USA’s top gymnast, she’s calm, confident and ready to make her country proud in just two short months. And her elite athlete lifestyle includes no time for distractions—especially men. When a disastrous fall in practice puts her dreams at risk, it seems the only person who can help her is the one person she wants nothing from.

Spencer Russell is gymnastics’ bad boy. A cocky, laid-back charmer with abs of steel and a witty...
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48

Beginners (The Gymnasts, #1)

They were more than friends - they were a team.
The new gymnastics club was going to be terrific. Cindi, Lauren, Darlene and Jodi knew they'd be friends from the first day they met. Coach Harmon said they'd be in a real gymnastics meet right away, even if they were only beginners.
Now they had to learn how to be a team.
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49
The A Girl Named series tells the stories of how ordinary American girls grew up to be extraordinary American women. Misty Copeland became the first African American Female Principal Dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, but how did she get there? A Girl Named Misty describes the defining moments that made up her childhood and adolescence with full-color illustrations throughout. In addition to stories and facts about Misty's upbringing and accomplishments, the book includes a timeline and a glossary, plus a profile of a noteworthy and contemporary American girl following in Misty's... more

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50

Dance Is the Secret Event

At age 10, Paige Green is the oldest girl on the Level 3 Team at Perfect Balance Gymnastics Academy. In practice she struggles to fit in. Paige secretly likes dance class and wants to beat her teammates and win the All-Around at the State Meet. But at State her team is falling apart and Paige learns that winning as a team is more important than the individual All-Around. Can she step up as a leader and pull this group together? Or is it too late? The Perfect Balance Gymnastics Series is a children's chapter book series. The series teaches girls to be kind to each other, flexible in life,... more

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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
51

When It Counts (2016, #2)

A year ago, 15-year-old Amalia Blanchard failed to qualify to nationals, but now with less than two months until the 2016 Olympic Games, she’s the United States beam champion on her way to fight for a spot on the Olympic team. Gymnastics is Amalia’s life and she’s sacrificed everything to get this far, but she still has to prove she has what it takes to stand out in Rio. The competition is tough and nothing is guaranteed, not even for her teammates, recently-crowned national champion Ruby Spencer, who missed the 2012 Olympics after rupturing her Achilles a month before the Games, and world... more

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52
Love Cathy Cassidy or Jacqueline Wilson? Don't miss this gorgeous new series set in the heady world of gymnastics.

Ellie has a dream . . . to become a world-class gymnast. When she’s offered a place at the prestigious London Gymnastics Academy, it looks like she has a chance to make that dream come true. But there are many obstacles to overcome, new friends to make, and rivalries to face! Will she make it, against all the odds?

Making the Grade is the first book in the Somersaults and Dreams series, a rollercoaster ride full of friendship, rivalries, setbacks and...
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53

Balancing Act

Thirteen-year-old Carli lives on her family's guest ranch in Colorado. She's a talented gymnast, but her parents are too busy running their business to give her much support. Carli develops a strong bond with her new coach, who believes that he can help her achieve her goal of Olympic glory. Carli dedicates herself to the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam, but just as she starts to excel, her parents decide that she needs to help out more on the ranch--putting her gold medal dreams in jeopardy. less

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54
Girls ages 4 to 6 who love gymnastics will love reading about Barbie as she competes at a gymnastic championship in this Step into Reading leveled reader. less

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55

Leverage

The football field is a battlefield

There's an extraordinary price for victory at Oregrove High. It is paid on - and off - the football field. And it claims its victims without mercy - including the most innocent bystanders.

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally damaged fullback and a promising gymnast might hold the key to a school's salvation.

Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, Leverage illuminates the fierce...
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56

Raising the Bar

After competing in the 2012 London Olympics and winning two gold medals, Gabrielle Douglas's life changed forever ... but in many important ways, it stayed the same. Inside these pages, Gabrielle shares an inside look at her day-to-day world, from the things that are still important to her---time with her friends and family, her favorite comfort foods, and her training routine---as well as what's it's like to suddenly walk the red carpet and interviewed by various people. Along the way, Gabrielle also offers tips on how you can raise the bar on your life and accomplish your dreams. Through... more

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57
A true story that will motivate you to get in the best shape of your life with a proven, simple and do-anywhere bodyweight exercise program.

Prepare yourself for a touching story of a journey into a true hero’s deepest despair to his ultimate triumph. One of the most amazing stories you will read that will take you through Anthony’s tragic life-changing event.


From his darkest moments to the turning point when he made the most courageous life-altering decision - having his leg amputated. From a long recovery to finally reaching a place of peace, fulfillment and the best...

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58
The Pinecones have made it to the state championships. But Cindi doesn't like the way the rival team is treating Darlene. Cindi makes up her mind to let those kids know exactly what she thinks . . . and her decision spurs the team on to really put the competition in their place. less

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59

The Gymnastics Mystery (Boxcar Children, #73)

One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them, No one knew where they had come from.

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather, and a young Russian gymnast has come for a visit.

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are happy to share their home with Katya, the young gymanst, and to watch her practice for their big competition. When things start going wrong at the gym it quickly becomes clear that someone is trying to ruin Katya's chances of winning. But who?

the...
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60
unBlocked: The Walls Come Tumbling Down is a book that was written to help cheerleaders, parents, and coaches understand and resolve the mental hurdles that occur in competitive cheerleading.Many athletes allow mental blocks to define them, inhibiting their happiness and success within the sport of cheerleading. Jeff Benson explains how a mental block is just a hurdle in the life of an athlete and one that can be overcome with hard work, determination, and persistence.

Author Jeff Benson has designed the system laid out in this book to take anyone in...
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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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61
Lauren is crazy about gymnastics, and she has to admit she's got a crush on Patrick, her coach. Lately, though, the whole family has been busy with her mum's campaign for city council. Mum and Dad hardly seem to have time for anything else - they're even hinting that Lauren's too busy for gymnastics. It's just not fair! Will Lauren's parents make her give up gymnastics - and Patrick? less

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62
From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest Series...

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics...

I've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And something about Jordan--being around him, talking to him, thinking about him--makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That's something I haven't been able to do lately....
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63

Winning Every Day

Shannon Miller, the most decorated gymnast in American history, has won sixteen medals and is one of the sports world's most positive role models.  Yet none of it would have happened if a little girl from Oklahoma hadn't dared to dream .  .  .  and followed up on that dream with hard work, commitment, and a firm belief in herself.

"I've learned to be disciplined and organized in order to balance gymnastics, college, and a social life," says Shannon.  But how does she do it?  And is that kind of focus within your reach?  Yes!  With friendly, upbeat advice, Shannon shares how...
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64
It all happened so fast. Cindi's dad got laid off from his job and suddenly, Cindi has to quit gymnastics. When Darlene's dad decides to set up a special gymnastics scholarship with Cindi as the first winner, Cindi is furious. Then she learns that gymnastics is a lot easier than lessons in pride. less

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65
Increase strength, build mass, burn fat, and define your muscles. With full-color anatomical illustrations, step-by-step instructions, and training advice, Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy is the authoritative resource for sculpting your physique without free weights, machines, or expensive equipment.

Targeting all muscle zones and primary muscle regions--arms, chest, shoulders, back, core, thighs, glutes, and calves--Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy presents 156 of the most effective bodyweight exercises that can be performed anytime, anywhere. With expert...
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68
From the USA TODAY Bestselling author of Scoring Wilder, comes a sexy new STANDALONE novel.

I despise Erik Winter.

He’s arrogant and cruel—a man I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy—and by some twisted turn of fate, he’s my new Olympic gymnastics coach.

I’ve had to contend with gruff coaches in the past, but Erik is far worse. His stern demeanor complements a body built for intimidation, and his reprimands come from a mouth so cunning, I know it could strip me of my defenses—if I let it.

Though each of us would love to be rid of the...
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69

Gymnastics

How did Kerri Strug go from Olympic hopeful to Olympic champion? How does Dominique Moceanu spend a typical day? This thorough, fun-to-read book answers those questions and many more. You?ll learn the ins and outs of the equipment and events, find out how scoring is done, read about the history of the sport, and lots more! Dan Gutman?s insider look at gymnastics has been fully updated to include the 1996 Olympics and is sure to enthrall aspiring gymnasts and devoted fans alike.?A glossary, a chronology, and an entertaining chapter of gymnastics trivia round out this easily read, timely... more

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70
The controversial gymnastics coach shares his own personal story of a life in gymnastics, detailing his career in his communist homeland, clashes with Romanian secret police, defection, and work with such stars as Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton. Reprint. less

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71
Over her bout with anorexia, Heidi Ferguson feels she is ready to compete again, and when she is picked for the Olympic team, she realizes her dream could come true. less

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72

The Fab Five

Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team

Meet the five gymnasts who will represent the United States at the 2012 London Olympics. A children's biography, The Fab Five: Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas and the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team tells each team member's life story as they rose from young gymnasts with big dreams to become international superstars of their sport. Discover the stories of Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Kyla Ross as they aim for gold in London! less

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73

Gabby Douglas

Going for Gold

A biography of Gabby Douglas, who made history at the 2010 London Olympic Summer Games when she became the first ever African-American gymnast to win a gold medal in the all-around competition. less

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74
Being a champion world-class gymnast looks exciting, but it's a lot of pressure, too. That's what got Heidi into trouble before. Now she has a chance to make a come-back - to prove she's got what it takes. But Heidi's got to prove it to herself first, and she'll need some help from her friends. less

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76

Grasping Air (Flipped #2)

We were the seconds after a grip released the bar, body floating through the air with nervous wonder. Would we successfully grab it again, or would we hit the mat, shattered and defeated?

Peyton Adams learned a long time ago that selfish and detached is the only way to be in life. What most people call shameless or obnoxious behavior, she considers key to getting where she needs to go. Most disapproving of all? USA Gymnastics’ golden boy with an eight-pack, Jared Hargrove. After being cut from the women’s team right before Rio, Peyton is back on the post-Summer Games tour. Not only...
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77

Reaching High

Long-limbed, red-haired Jessie might be the quiet girl on the Texas Twisters, but she's a force to be reckoned with where it counts-on the vault and in her heart. With freshman year on the horizon, Jesse decides that it's time to stop hiding in the shadow of her teammates and do the last thing anyone expects: join the cheerleading squad. Jessie proves that her gymnastic skills make her a perfect fit for the team, and becoming friends with the team captain makes Jessie feel like people care about her, and not just her talent. But with cheer practice suddenly taking up all of her spare... more

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78

The Boy on Cinnamon Street

A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her.

7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back?

Phoebe Stone tells the winning story of the spring when 7th grader Louise Terrace wakes up, finds the courage to confront the painful family secret she's hiding from - and finally get the boy.
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80
From the author of the #1 BEST-SELLING BOOK: All you need is a Pull-up Bar
How many Push-ups can you do?

10? 20? 50? 100?
Unfortunately, the number of reps doesn't matter. Take a look on Youtube for all kinds of push-up challenges and examine the chest development of the guys doing them.

Most of the times it's insignificant, right? Does that mean push-ups are a bad chest builder? Not at all. It's just that most people don't know how to activate their chest muscles properly. As a result, they do numerous reps without...
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81

Lessons in Falling

LESSON ONE: Playing it safe beats taking chances.

After an injury ends Savannah’s dream of a college gymnastics scholarship, she quits
despite her parents’ protests. She won’t risk breaking her body—and heart—again.

LESSON TWO: Catch your best friend when she falls—or regret it forever.

Rules are meant to be broken, according to Savannah’s best friend, Cassie—and it’s more fun to break them together. But when Cassie attempts suicide, Savannah’s left wondering how well she really knows her.

LESSON THREE: Leaping forward, not knowing where you’ll...
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82

Gymnastics Jump

It's Lily's first gymnastics meet, and she is nervous. Will she be able to complete all of her events without falling? This Starting Line Reader showcases the importance of perseverance. less

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83
When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby's to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in... more

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84
Meet Simone Biles!
Fact-filled Rookie Read-About Biographies introduce the youngest readers to influential women and men, both past and present. Colorful photos and age appropriate text encourage children to read on their own-as they learn about people like Serena Williams, Neil Armstrong, Rosa Parks, Anne Frank and many more.

From the time she was a little girl, Simone wanted to be a world-class gymnast. Through hard work and determination she made her dreams come true. Read this book to learn all about Olympic champion Simone Biles and her path to glory.
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85

Unexpected Twist

Christina has waited her whole life to make it big. And now she's ready-to be the star of the Texas Twisters, on her way to becoming the first Junior Elite all-around champion at the American Invitational. The pressure is on, and there's no turning back. But practice takes a turn for the worse when Christina lands her vault routine with a sharp pain in her ankle; it's clear that she's been pushing herself a little too hard. A forced break from gymnastics is not what Christina had in mind with the biggest competition of her life coming up. Her whole world revolves around the gym, but now she's... more

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86
Despite her Russian heritage, seventeen-year-old Nina Solomon is exactly like any other American teenager, except for one major difference. Unlike her friends, she spends hours in the gym working toward her dream of becoming an Olympian. After holding a place on the US National Team for a year, her chances of achieving what she’s worked her entire life for are within reach, that is, until she fails a mandatory drug test.

Forced into suspension until the investigation can be completed, Nina accepts an offer to train with the Russian gymnastics team. Unexpected friendships arise,...
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88

Brothers Have Talent, Too (Perfect Balance Gymnastics, #4)

Alexis is the youngest sibling in a large Mormon family of five children. With four athletic brothers, it’s hard to stand out. Even gymnastics isn’t her own thing. Her brother, Drew, is a gymnast too. When her school announces a talent show Alexis decides this is her chance to shine. She asks her teammates at Perfect Balance Gymnastics Academy to be in the show with her. Together they work hard to create a dazzling gymnastics and dance routine. But Alexis’ plans are shattered when she learns her teammates aren't allowed in the show. What will she do? Teach the routine to friends at school?... more

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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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91
This is the compelling story of the first American to win the World Championships in the sport of gymnastics, Kim Zmeskal. It describes her rise to the top, her heartbreaking defeat in the 1992 Olympics, and her courageous decision to make a comeback. less

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92

These Battered Hands

Callie

Blood, sweat, hard work, and a disconcerting lack of tears—my entire life—was meant to culminate in a flourish of glory and significance.
I’d thought I’d always known exactly what that meant.
But I’d had the timing wrong by about three minutes.
I knew now.
This moment wasn’t everything. The one person I found myself wanting more than anything during it was.

Nik

One preconceived notion can haunt you for the entirety of your life.
I thought I owed it to myself and to everyone who’d ever backed me to do...
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93
Feeling tired all the time? Wonder what could make you feel healthier both physically and mentally? It's time to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit with yoga!



Discover what yoga can bring to your life and wellbeing. This illustrated yoga guide for beginners will provide you with all you need to know to get into yoga.

Yoga is way more than you think! Yoga will not only allow you to have a healthy body ready for the task at hand, but will also greatly strengthen your mind. Broadly speaking, yoga refers to a collection of practices for body, mind,...
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94

I Want to Be a Gymnast

Join Hannah and Jessica as they learn the art of gymnastics, from cartwheels and handstands to using the beam and asymmetric bars. Level 2 readers include longer sentences and increased vocabulary with a simple index. less

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95

The Science Behind Gymnastics

Behind every jump, spin, and flip of Olympic gymnastics, science is at work. Centrifugal force is at work in a midair spin, and center of gravity is involved in balance beam routines. Newton s Third Law of Motion springs into action as a gymnast flies into the air in the vaulting event. Find out how science is involved in all your favorite gymnastics events and how gymnasts take science into account as they chase the gold medal." less

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96

Shannon Miller

My Child, My Hero

Shannon Miller has truly lived the American Dream-its drama and disappointment, its hope and joy. Written by her mother, this profusely illustrated story of Shannon’s journey to Olympic fame is also the portrait of a family working together to help a child achieve a difficult, challenging goal.

The ultimate thrill for an athlete is to stand on a podium and, with the world as witness, to accept an Olympic medal. In Shannon Miller: My Child, My Hero, Claudia Miller helps us understand the dedication and hard work preceding that moment of Olympic glory. Claudia presents intimate...
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97
Casey learns that the new coach of the school gymnastics team is her father. less

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98

Nothing Hurts But My Heart

Lisa Conklin is sure that this is a nightmare. An important gymnastics meet is only a few weeks away, and now there is something wrong with her back. The doctors are saying it's scoliosis and that Lisa might have to give up competing. But nothing hurts, Lisa tells herself. less

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99

Jake at Gymnastics

Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s irresistible illustrations of enthusiastic toddlers will have budding gymnasts jumping for joy.
 
Jake and his diverse group of friend love their action-packed gymnastics class, where they stretch, tumble, balance, turn somersaults and so much more. This is the perfect book to introduce toddlers to the joy of movement and the fun of gymnastics.
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100

I Will Try

Perseverance (and a little help from a friend) pay off for an aspiring young gymnast in this winning entry in the I Like to Read(R) series. Ella is in awe of Jan, the star of her gymnastics class. Jan can spin and leap on the balance beam. Can Ella? Her first attempt is a failure, and Ella is ready to give up. But Jan is a star at friendship too; and with her encouragement, Ella tries again--and succeeds! This is the perfect book for girls learning to read. The adorable, leotard-clad young gymnasts fill the pages with action; and the story offers valuable, age-appropriate lessons in kindness,... more

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Don't have time to read the top Gymnastics books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

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  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.