Fred Flips!: How One Gymnast Realized that Differences Can Become Strengths

“Charismatic, athletic Olympic medalist Frederick Richard tells how he was born with ‘gymnastics in his bones!’ Illustrations show him flipping in his crib, off the couch, and eventually in the gym….A hot take on a great athlete.”—School Library Journal

Even before he could talk, Fred was flipping in his crib, giggling as his parents watched in awe. He was born to be a gymnast! But when Fred started training with other kids, he began to feel . . . different. Most of the gymnasts were girls. Fred was a boy—and not just any boy. He was a Black boy with skin so dark that even his friends joked, “Where’s Fred? He’s disappeared into the dark!” How could Fred learn to compete when he felt so different from everyone else?

In his first book, Olympic and World Championship medalist Fred Richard tells how he overcame bullying and learned to stand tall and stand out in his quest to become one of America's most famous male gymnasts. Boys and girls alike will be inspired by Fred's grit, determination, and a piece of advice from his father that changed everything: "Why just fit in when you can shine?"