New children’s illustrated title: Meet Bobbi Gibb at this special book launch in Gloucester, June 13th title celebrates Bobbi Gibb and her historic race.
Gloucester, MA and Seattle, WA In 1966, the world believed it was impossible for a woman to run the Boston Marathon and Bobbi Gibb proved them wrong. Compendium is honored to announce the release of “The Girl Who Ran”, an illustrated children’s book based on Gibb’s journey to become the first woman to run Boston Marathon.
The book begins with Gibb as a young girl with a relentless desire to run “like the wind in the fire.” A visit to the Boston Marathon with her father ignited her dream to take part in the race. But her application was rejected by the Boston Athletic Association which informed her that women were incapable of running the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. People worried she would cause herself serious injury and thought that she was mentally ill. She proved them wrong and finished the race ahead of about half the men who were running, with a time of 3:21:40.
Authors Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee worked to bring Gibb’s story to life. Illustrator Susanna Chapman visited the Boston Marathon and sketched runners, capturing the spirit and community of the race. A timeline on the back of the book gives a history on the Boston Marathon and the increasing number of women who joined each year. “The Girl Who Ran” celebrates the achievement of women in sport.
The book offers an empowering message about breaking through challenges, realizing what you’re capable of, and striving for your goals. “The advice I give to young people about shaping the future is to follow your dreams and do what you most passionately feel like doing,” says Gibb. Compendium hopes to inspire a new generation of trailblazers with “The Girl Who Ran.” This title is scheduled to be released Summer 2017.
The book was officially released last week in New York City at the Book Expo America. Cape Ann, Bobbi’s home, will be the first place to host a local book event. Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco (seARTS Advisor) and the Charles Fine Art Gallery in collaboration with The Bookstore, the Sawyer Free Library, Cape Ann Art Haven, and the 26.2 Foundation which is leading the Bobbi Gibb Marathon Sculpture project. The event takes place Tuesday, June 13th just after school so that parents can bring their children. “We hope to appeal to children ages 6-11 who are interested in sports, art, history, and breaking barriers of all kinds,” says Jacqueline the organizer. “Bobbi’s story in this new version is timely to ensure our next generation that all is possible.” At this event, Bobbi will read from the book and she and the illustrator, Susanna Chapman (Boston) will sign books.
Tuesday, June 13th 4-6:30 PM
Charles Fine Arts Gallery
196 Main Street, Gloucester, MA.
Additional Information:
Authors Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee are the authors of Miss Todd and Her Wonderful Flying Machine, as well as the co-writers of the Student Academy® Award-winning short film Miss Todd.
“Well-told and illustrated, Gibb’s story speaks to not only women’s fight for equality, but the power of community” KIRKUS REVIEW
Enjoy the Charles Fine Arts Gallery’s current exhibit: Flowers & Elegant Objects
View Bobbi Gibb’s Garden Mural & Sculpture; hear about the Marathon Sculpture Project
Purchase Bobbi’s books and have them signed by the woman that changed running history & Susanna Chapman the book’s illustrator.Bobbi’s adult reading books will also be available: To Boston with Love, Wind in the Fire, and 26.2 Essays
This event sponsored by Charles Fine Arts Gallery, The Bookstore, The Sawyer Free Library, Cape Ann Art Haven, the Bobbi Gibb Marathon Sculpture Project & seARTS
Bio of Bobbi Gibb:
Bobbi Gibb's zest for life and natural curiosity show up in the many hats she wears: mother, scientific researcher for neurodegenerative diseases, attorney, athlete, author and speaker, to name a few. While many people know her as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, few people know her as an artist. Aside from running, she finds creative expression through her bronze and wax sculptures and acrylic paint murals. In honor of the 50th year of her run in 2016, Bobbi is sharing her lifetime wish for her artwork – to sculpt a life-size statue of a female runner and have it places on the Boston Marathon Course. She is a three-time winner of the Boston Marathon Women’s Division in the Pioneer era, 1966, 1967 and 1968. She was the first woman ever to run and complete the Boston Marathon in 1966 at a time when it was believed that women were not physically able to run marathon distances and were not allowed to complete in events longer than one and a half miles. Her list of honors is long and can be found at www.bobbigibbart.net. Her feat disproved widely held beliefs about women and was a pivotal event in triggering the second wave of the women’s movement and in changing the consciousness about women’s capabilities. Her sculpture reflects her love of sports and celebrates the human body in motion.
Bio of Illustrator:
Susanna Chapman studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and now designs childrens’ books in the Boston area. She attends the Boston Marathon every year, not to race in it herself, but to cheer on the 30,000 men and women who do! Susanna finds her own wind in the fire through drawing and painting and going on bicycle adventures with her husband and friends.
