Book: Nadia-The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still

Author: Karlin Gray

Nadia Comaneci was an amazing gymnast who took the gymnastics world by storm when she received perfect execution scores at the 1976 Olympic Games.  Long before that though, she was just a girl who loved to swing from the treetops.  The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still tells the story of Nadia’s gymnastics career in an engaging style that is perfect for younger children.

This book is especially appropriate right now, since the gymnastics portion of the Olympics has concluded.  Everybody is still thinking about gymnastics and there are some great videos on Youtube of the winning gymnastics routines that make a perfect follow-up to reading the story of Nadia.

Sophia particularly has been really interested in gymnastics lately.  She was mesmerized by this book, and subsequently by the myriads of gymnastics videos we have watched lately. I really enjoyed this particular book as well. Partly because of its content (I love gymnastics) and partly because children’s books that make history exciting and relate-able are one of my favorite things (right up there with coffee, dark chocolate, and wine!)

C.S. Lewis once said that “a children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”  Ever since I heard that quote I have considered it my ultimate criteria for kids books.  Do the kids enjoy it? Do I enjoy it?  Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still hit both requirements spot on.

5 out of 5 stars: We loved it.