Grind: An Ode to Skateboarding

Try an ollie; take to the air! Jump and land; show off your flair!

Award-winning author – and one-time skateboard mom – Carole Boston Weatherford helps budding thrill seekers learn the ropes of skateboarding in this exciting and rhythmic ode to the culture surrounding this extreme sport.

Illustrator Néstor Omar García López provides graphic art in each spread that depicts the exhilaration, creativity, and freedom of the world of skateboarding. His artistic vision complements Weatherford’s adrenaline-fueled commentary of the sport, from the execution of daring tricks to the serene contemplation while cruising down the street. This duo successfully transports the reader to the essence of skateboarding culture and experience.

Grind: An Ode to Skateboarding provides an A-to-Z learning experience for young readers, beginning with the selection of the right board, decking it out with personal designs and decals, and even selecting the proper safety gear to avoid injury. Readers will even learn how to fall the proper way, because of course, “Trust that for every trick you nail, you’ll first fall, so learn to bail.”

Skateboarding terminology is all over the pages of this book as well. Kick turns, ollies, heelflips, grinds, boardslides, and many other terms are used to teach the reader all about skateboarding. All these terms are gathered in a glossary at the end of the book.

After reading this book, budding skateboarders will most definitely find their groove on the street or in the bowl. Who knows, with all the spinning, grinding, and airborne tricks, their dreams could eventually be realized with a trip to the Olympics!