Ready, Set, Run!: The Amazing New York City Marathon

by Leslie Kimmelman (Author) Jessie Hartland (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A lively nonfiction picture book about runners preparing for, and racing in, the New York City Marathon, perfect for fans of Balloons Over Broadway and The Philharmonic Gets Dressed.

All over the world—on city roads and country lanes, on beaches, high in the mountains, across fields, in sun, rain, and late at night, people get ready to race. It’s a BIG DEAL to run in the New York City Marathon!


In this energetic and ever-so-fun nonfiction picture book about the world's most famous race, readers follow runners from all over the world as they stretch, make their playlist, eat a spaghetti dinner, and then pound, pound, pound through the five boroughs of New York City, all the way to the finish line.
With fun facts throughout ("Since 1979, a high school band stationed at Mile 9 plays the “Rocky” theme song again and again until the last runners go by"), this is an exhilarating, inside-view of what it entails to run the world's largest marathon.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

A fresh, buoyant high stepper.

ALA/Booklist

This attractive picture book introduces marathons to children.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

"It's a BIG DEAL to run in the New York City Marathon," but conversational prose by Kimmelman (The Eight Knights of Hanukkah) and naïf-style gouache vignettes from Hartland (Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution) make this world-famous sporting event feel relatable to young readers--from training and race-eve prep ("Some eat big spaghetti dinners") to the moment when an exhausted but happy runner falls asleep still holding a participant's medal ("What a city! What a day!"). Callouts labeled "EXTRA!" throughout add facts, but the focus--including a wonderful gatefold of the race's start ("poundpoundpoundpoundpound")--stays mostly on the stampede of runners of varying abilities, ages, body types, and skin tones. Spreads that align with the real event's lively spirit overview the race's route while spotlighting participants moving fast and slow, in costume and not, for good causes and to settle a rivalry ("Who's faster, police officers or firefighters?"). As all of New York gets caught up in the excitement--with onlookers waving cheeky signs ("You are NOT almost there") and shouting "Keepgoingkeepgoingkeepgoingkeepgoingkeepgoing!"--readers are likely to break into a cheer as well. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Amy Stern, Sheldon Fogelman Agency. Illustrator's agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. (Aug.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Leslie Kimmelman
Leslie Kimmelman is an accomplished author of 40 picturebooks under her own name, as well as many works for hire under pseudonyms. Her work has garnered a Sydney Taylor honor and three Sydney Taylor Notable citations. In addition, Leslie worked at Sesame Workshop for 25 years, where she created the autistic character, Julia. Her work on Sesame Street's autism initiative received a Smithsonian Ingenuity Award. Visit her online at lesliekimmelman.net.

Jessie Hartland a New York City based artist, and writer and illustrator of books for children. Her books include Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery, which was featured on Humans of New York, Steve Jobs: Insanely Great and Bon Apetit!, about Julia Child. She has painted murals at a Japanese amusement park, designed Christmas windows for Bloomingdale's, and put her mark on ceramics, watches, and all sorts of other things. She has done drawings for many magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, Travel and Leisure Family, Martha Stewart Kids and Bon Appetit. Visit her on the Web at jessiehartland.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780593433652
Lexile Measure
630
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Random House Studio
Publication date
August 01, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF054140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Sports & Recreation | Track & Field
JNF024040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Health & Daily Living | Fitness & Exercise
Library of Congress categories
New York (State)
New York
Picture books
Running
Marathon running

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