Jean Driscoll

An inspiring book for children of all abilities, Jean Driscoll: Dream Big, Work Hard! chronicles American athlete Jean Driscoll, eight-time winner of the Boston Marathon, who was born with spina bifida in 1966. Beginning with her early years, author Michael Sandler highlights the numerous challenges Driscoll has faced throughout her lifetime, and offsets those with even more examples of her tremendous accomplishments—such as teaching herself to ride a bike at age nine, and going on to participate in a variety of activities including soccer, basketball, and long-distance races as a competitive wheelchair-athlete. From frequent falls and bullying, to dreams of being able to “run and play without having to work at it,” readers ages 9 to 12 will empathize with the difficult hurdles Driscoll had to contend with as a youngster and teen. The athlete’s pain is palpable in Sandler’s use of visual imagery to describe her feelings following an accident at age 14 which left her in a body cast for 11 months: “The cast was a prison for Jean. She dreamed of escaping from it.” Written in simple, concise sentences and presented in large font, Jean Driscoll: Dream Big, Work Hard! is a valuable tool for children learning to read independently. Although readers will find some of the vocabulary new and potentially challenging, sophisticated words are bolded and defined in a glossary at the back. A timeline highlighting milestones in Driscoll’s life adds to the book’s appeal, while a “Just the Facts” section offers further insights into spina bifida and Driscoll’s career. Vivid pictures on every page convey Driscoll’s enthusiasm and passion for sports and show her celebrating her successes. Even more compelling, though, are pictures showcasing Driscoll in training, a reminder to readers of the tremendous efforts Driscoll had to invest in order to triumph. Named after Driscoll’s personal mantra, Dream Big, Work Hard! will motivate all children experiencing any kind of setback on the path toward achievement. It sends the message that victories and accomplishments represent the culmination of incredible determination, patience, and sometimes, even sweat—valuable lessons, which everyone can learn from.