THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180032
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Book Review
SOURCE: Barbara Burns
LENGTH: 41 lines
WITH THE Summer Olympics set to begin in a little over a month, children may be eager to learn more, and to participate in, this worldwide sports event.
B.G. Hennessy's simple, informative book ``Olympics!'' (Viking, $14.99) describes the games for readers ages 3 to 7. Hennessy captures the excitement of early preparations by the athletes and the host city, as well as the lighting of the torch and the thrill of competition. Michael Chesworth's humorous illustrations provide a fresh, lively look.
``Robert Crowther's Pop-Up Olympics'' (Candlewick Press, $19.99) will delight children ages 5-8. Each page is filled with fascinating facts and spectacular statistics from past Olympics. Ingenious flaps, wheels and pull tabs will send divers splashing into pools, gymnasts spinning through the air and runners leaping over hurdles. There's even a sturdy gold medal included for children to wear and imagine themselves as Olympic champions.
Tracking the Games will be much more exciting for children with ``The Thrill of Victory'' (Penguin U.S.A., $4.99), an action-packed activity book for ages 9-12. This colorful paperback contains 166 stickers, puzzles, games and a large poster for recording the winners in 27 different sports.
``The Young Track and Field Athlete'' (Dorling Kindersley, $9.95 paper) explains how to clear a hurdle, throw a discus, pass a relay baton, etc., in step-by-step photographs. It explores the decathlon and heptathlon along with warm-up tips and a history of the sports. The text is by Colin Jackson, reigning world champion in the 110-meter hurdles, who will be competing in Atlanta. Olympic sprinter Gwen Torrence, also competing this year, wrote the foreword. A colorful wall chart listing all 1996 Summer Olympics track-and-field events, with blanks to fill in the champions, is included.
Let the Games begin! ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
VIKING
``Olympics!'' describes the Games for readers ages 3-7. by CNB