Tag Danielle Brown

Shoot For the Stars

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Shoot For the Stars
Danielle Brown, illustrated by Jayde Perkin and Filigrana de Ideas
Little Tiger

Both empowering and full of information, this is written by double Paralympic gold medallist and five times world champion in archery, Danielle Brown MBE. She hopes to encourage girls from around twelve years old on to keep participating in sport instead of dropping out of physical activities, which often coincides with the onset of puberty when among other things, girls start menstruating and they sometimes see this as a barrier to sporting activity.

This and other perceived barriers are discussed in a matter of fact manner, be it feelings of discomfort in school PE kit, ideas of body image or worries about controlling one’s temper when one’s performance is adversely affected by hormones. It’s particularly good to see the spread featuring Chinese swimmer, Fu Yuanhui, who openly discussed the impact of starting her period on her performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The dress code of bikini bottoms for women’s beach volleyball was not altered until 2021 when he Norwegian team took action by wearing shorts instead. They were fined for so doing but public outrage precipitated the change. It was not until 2023 that the all whites rules for underwear for women players at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships was changed.

A stand was also taken by Kulsoom Abdullah, a weightlifter. She was invited to compete in the national championships, but against her religious beliefs, wasn’t allowed to cover her limbs or to wear a hijab, so she didn’t participate. However she did take her story to the media with them behind her to the International Weightlifting Federation. The outcome was that the rule was changed and so Kulsoom represented Pakistan that year at the World Championships.

Accepting feedback and applying what you’ve been told is vital for making progress and improving in any sport, and indeed other aspects of life and a chapter is devoted that topic: all those who brief biographies are included must certainly have done that.

I was listening to a discussion on the radio this morning about the increased number of people who are over weight and how this can lead to ill-health. Food was the subject under discussion but I couldn’t help thinking that being physically active is equally important and Danielle’s book encourages readers to do just that whether or not they end up going further and becoming sporting competitors.

Illustrations by Jayde Perkin and Filigrana de Ideas and colour photos of renowned women sports stars add to the enjoyment of the book.

Girls Rule: 50 Women Who Changed the World

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Girls Rule: 50 Women Who Changed the World
Danielle Brown
Button Books

This is the second book written by double Paralympic champion Danielle Brown, the first para athlete to represent Team England in an able-bodied event at the Commonwealth Games,
Right from her introduction readers are empowered by such words as “There are no limits to how great your dreams can grow, or how much you can achieve when you keep your curiosity burning … You are bold, talented, unstoppable. And when you stay true to your beliefs, you too, can change the world.’

Travelling through history and to various parts of the world, we are introduced to female activists, artists, writers, teachers and educators, peacekeepers, pirates, politicians, spokeswomen, scientists, sportswomen and survivors who have, or are still changing the world. Often they’ve had to overcome almost impossible odds, getting over or through huge barriers, in pursuit of what they believe(d) to be right or important.

One of the women was a new name to me: Christine de Pizza an Italian who lived from 1364 to 1430. Her father became a member of the French royal court and when living in France she had access to the palace libraries and learned to read and write. After her supportive husband died, she had no money and unexpectedly, decided to become a writer who challenged the way women had always been presented in stories and accounts. She uncovered and shared true stories of women inventors, artists, scholars and more in the hope that sharing these would change the way women were treated. She was also determined to get a better education for girls.

Those who care a lot about the environment will be interested to read about Wangari Maathai who grew up in rural Kenya. Having earned a degree from an American University, she returned to her home village and on realising that vast forest areas of Kenya had been destroyed, began planting trees. She founded the Green Belt Movement and over the next three decades, despite the negative attitudes of Government officials, more than thirty million trees were planted. Eventually this inspired a United Nations campaign. What Wangari realised, that many others didn’t, was the strong link between looking after the environment and the reduction of poverty and in 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Price for her work helping communities, particularly women, to restore the environment and their livelihoods. What do you think she did to celebrate her prize?

Stylishly designed, a double spread is allocated to each woman featured and as well as the written biographical details, there’s a large illustration and for most, a significant quote. Here are a couple: “I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.” (Jacinda Arden, the Prime Minster of New Zealand for over five years) and “The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” (Maria Montessori, doctor and educator.)

Another inspiring book about following your dreams for KS2 readers.

Be Your Best Self

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Be Your Best Self
Danielle Brown and Nathan Kai
Button Books

At a time when more and more youngsters are suffering from low self-esteem, Danielle Brown double Paralympic Gold medallist and five times world champion in archery and Nathan Kai, (just seven at the time of writing), a member of MENSA and an elite athlete, have joined forces, creating a book to empower children to become their very best selves.

Profusely illustrated and including motivational quotes from the authors as well as the likes of Dr Seuss and J.K.Rowling, Michelle Obama and Amelia Earhart, this certainly is an inspiring book.

With a straightforward, thematically organised framework children are told to dream big and then determine what steps they need to take to fulfil their dreams.

Aspects such as The Mind and Mindset, which looks at the importance of developing a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset,

Staying Focused, Learning How to Fail Well ( it’s a chance to learn), Self-Confidence,

People Skills, and the importance of eating well and getting plenty of sleep are included.

I have a teenage friend in Udaipur, Rajasthan who, one Christmas holiday four years ago announced she wanted to be sports captain of her school. She is a talented athlete but there is a tradition in Rajasthan for shooting and Karttiki decided she would try to become a shooter.

She started to practice in earnest and by luck one of the older girls fell sick at the last moment and Karttiki was given a chance to participate in an inter-school tournament. Thus began her shooting journey: one of determination and great focus.
Having researched several kinds of shooting, she decided that her best bet if she wanted to become a champion, was skeet. It’s a tough sport and very expensive but her father (my close friend) is very supportive. This year though still a junior, she has made the senior national team and in 2019, has represented India in the World Cup, World Championships and is about to go to the Asian Games (all this before A-levels). She’s had her downs as well as her ups along the way and feels tired a lot of the time, but as she says, “I’m doing it because I love it.”

Turning a dream into reality is just what this 17 year old is surely doing: she epitomises the spirit of this splendid book.