The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon
Written by Simran Jeet Singh, Illustrated by Baljinder Kaur
Growing up in a little village in Punjab, Fauja Singh couldn’t walk by himself until he was 5 years old. Doctors couldn’t figure out why he had trouble walking. But with practice, patience, and encouragement from his mother, Fauja was able to overcome his difficult start in life.
This story is even more interesting because Fauja Singh also became the oldest person to run a marathon. He started by completing the London Marathon when he was 89 years old and went on to run that marathon 5 more times. But he didn’t stop there! On Oct. 16, 2011, 100-year-old Fauja Singh finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in just over 8 hours. He set a new world record for the oldest person to ever run a marathon.
The themes of perseverance, overcoming challenges, diversity, and working on a healthy mind and body are all part of this interesting book. There’s a wonderful forward, written by Fauja Singh (as a 108-year old) sharing his secrets to a long, healthy life. There’s also a nice section at the back with a current picture of Fauga Singh in his running gear and turban, explaining why he doesn’t cut his hair and more about his Sikh faith. The illustrations are lovely and I think this story of personal triumph will inspire kids on many levels.Reviewed by Andrea LeBaron, Librarian, Upland Terrace Elementary
Review shared in October 2020
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-5
Fauja Singh Keeps Going
Written by Simran Jeet Singh, Illustrated by Baljinder Kaur
Kokila
48 pages
Release Date: August 25, 2020
ISBN: 9780525555094
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
