0
    • Elementary Secondary Higher Ed Common Reads
    0 0
    Download high-resolution image Look inside

    Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson

    Author Sue Stauffacher
    Illustrated by Greg Couch
    Look inside
    Paperback
    $8.99 US
    RH Childrens Books | Dragonfly Books
    8.5"W x 11"H x 0.2"D  
    On sale Jan 11, 2011 | 40 Pages | 9780375865442
    Grades 6-8
    Reading Level: Lexile 810L | Fountas & Pinnell P
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    Althea is nothing but trouble! Everyone agrees: her mama, her daddy, her teacher, even the policeman. But when Buddy Walker, the play leader on Althea's street in Harlem, watches her play paddle tennis, he sees something more: pure possibility. Buddy buys Althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, she's on her way to becoming a great athlete—and to proving that she's more than just trouble.

    Althea Gibson was the first African American ever to compete in and win the Wimbledon Cup. Born in 1927, she was a spirited child and became an enormously talented athlete. Sue Stauffacher's lively text, paired with vibrant paintings by artist Greg Couch, captures the exuberance, ambition, and triumph of this remarkable woman. Readers will cheer from the stands as Althea transforms from playground tomboy to Wimbledon champion.
    © Roger Gilles
    Sue Stauffacher is a children’s book author who writes the Animal Rescue Team series. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona in Tucson. In addition to writing books, Stauffacher has worked as a journalist, book reviewer, and teacher. She lives with her husband, Roger, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. View titles by Sue Stauffacher
    Greg Couch lives in Nyack, New York. View titles by Greg Couch
    • WINNER | 2008
      NAACP Image Award
    • WINNER | 2008
      NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
    • WINNER | 2007
      New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
    • NOMINEE
      Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
    Starred Review, School Library Journal, September 2007:
    "The prose is rhythmic and has the cadence of the street, and it's a treat to read aloud ... [T]his is an affecting tribute to a great athlete, and a story to both enjoy and inspire."

    Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, August 27, 2007:
    "[A] sharp evocation of her spirited and appealingly pricky personality. Boys and girls of all levels of athleticism will find much inspiration in these pages."

    About

    Althea is nothing but trouble! Everyone agrees: her mama, her daddy, her teacher, even the policeman. But when Buddy Walker, the play leader on Althea's street in Harlem, watches her play paddle tennis, he sees something more: pure possibility. Buddy buys Althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, she's on her way to becoming a great athlete—and to proving that she's more than just trouble.

    Althea Gibson was the first African American ever to compete in and win the Wimbledon Cup. Born in 1927, she was a spirited child and became an enormously talented athlete. Sue Stauffacher's lively text, paired with vibrant paintings by artist Greg Couch, captures the exuberance, ambition, and triumph of this remarkable woman. Readers will cheer from the stands as Althea transforms from playground tomboy to Wimbledon champion.

    Author

    © Roger Gilles
    Sue Stauffacher is a children’s book author who writes the Animal Rescue Team series. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona in Tucson. In addition to writing books, Stauffacher has worked as a journalist, book reviewer, and teacher. She lives with her husband, Roger, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. View titles by Sue Stauffacher
    Greg Couch lives in Nyack, New York. View titles by Greg Couch

    Awards

    • WINNER | 2008
      NAACP Image Award
    • WINNER | 2008
      NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
    • WINNER | 2007
      New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
    • NOMINEE
      Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices

    Praise

    Starred Review, School Library Journal, September 2007:
    "The prose is rhythmic and has the cadence of the street, and it's a treat to read aloud ... [T]his is an affecting tribute to a great athlete, and a story to both enjoy and inspire."

    Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, August 27, 2007:
    "[A] sharp evocation of her spirited and appealingly pricky personality. Boys and girls of all levels of athleticism will find much inspiration in these pages."

    Other Books by this Author

    Related Articles

    Mental Health Awareness Month Resources
    General

    Mental Health Awareness Month Resources

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month and educators are increasingly aware that integrating social-emotional learning into the curriculum is critical if we want students to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Download the thematic educator guides on Teaching About Anxiety and Mindfulness and Teaching About Student Wellness. Explore our specially curated collections on

    Read more

    Mental Health Awareness Month Resources

    General
    Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Book Covers: 9780593731703 MY DOCUMENTS (RH) 9780593804872 A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF (Knopf) 9780593298381 WHERE ARE YOU REALLY FROM (Penguin) 9781603095747 IT RHYMES WITH TAKEI (IDW)
    History Asian American Sociology Literature

    Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    Each May, we honor the stories, histories, and cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Below is a selection of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators to share with your students this month and throughout the year. AANHPI Creators – Middle School titles AANHPI Creators – High School titles .

    Read more

    Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    History Asian American Sociology Literature

    Penguin Random House Secondary Education

    © 2026 Penguin Random House

    Back to Top
    0
    Wish List (0)