Fred Flips!: How One Gymnast Realized that Differences Can Become Strengths

The first picture book from Olympic Gymnast Fred Richard featuring the story of how he overcame racism, bullying, and more to win one of his first competitions.

Even before he could talk, Fred was flipping in his crib, giggling as his parents watched in awe. He was born to be a gymnast! But when Fred started training with other kids, he began to feel . . . different. Most of the gymnasts were girls. Fred was a boy―and not just any boy. He was a Black boy with skin so dark that even his friends joked, “Where’s Fred? He’s disappeared into the dark!” How could Fred learn to compete when he felt so different from everyone else?

In his first book, Olympic and World Championship medalist Fred Richard tells how he overcame bullying and learned to stand tall and stand out in his quest to become one of America's most famous male gymnasts. Boys and girls alike will be inspired by Fred's grit, determination, and a piece of advice from his father that changed everything: "Why just fit in when you can shine?"

Olympic Gymnast Fred Richard is a World All-Around Bronze Medalist and reigning NCAA Men's All-Around Champion and took the world by storm at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He is student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a native of Stoughton, Massachussetts.

Ryan G. Van Cleave is the author of more than 100 books for children and adults, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He earned a PhD in American literature and has taught writing for more than twenty years. As The Picture Book Doctor™, he helps creators bring kidlit projects to life on the page, stage, and screen. He believes good stories begin with curiosity. Root beer helps, too.

Darcie Olley is an illustrator based in the east of England. She graduated with a B.A. in Textiles in 2018. Her final collection at University, based on a series of weird and wonderful extinct animals, was selected by Sir Paul Smith to receive the Nicole Abbott Award. Darcie spent some time working in the textile design industry, before deciding that illustration is where her heart lies. She uses a mixture of acrylic, watercolour, gouache, pencil, and digital techniques in her work, to create illustrations full of vibrancy, humour, and joy. Darcie’s work is often inspired by her Indian heritage, her love for animals (you can often find her trying to make friends with the neighbourhood cats), and the funny and simple little things she notices about day-to-day life!