G.G. Snowboards

by Marty Mokler Banks, Alisa Mokler Harper (Illustrator)

G.G. Snowboards (The G.G. Series, Book #1) is a fresh new chapter book series for readers ages 5-9. In each book, the sassy, spunky G.G.—an eight-year-old Hispanic girl who lives in a big city apartment--gets to try a new extreme or action sport. In G.G. Snowboards, the vibrant G.G. boldly tells her family, “It’s the halfpipe or nothing!” But snowboarding is a lot harder than she expected. Can G.G. brave the lift? Slide the rails at the terrain park with her cousin Carlos? Or even ride the ginormous, scary half pipe? With photo illustrations by a former member of the U.S. Snowboard Team.

104 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2013

Reviews

[Marty Banks]

“An epic ride!”
—Susie Floros, Editor-in-Chief, Snowboard Magazine

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute delight! This is a clever chapter book about a young girl who learns to snowboard for the first time. It's a great sports book for girls (and even boys!). I loved the addition of the black and white photos - that's the first time I've seen that in an ebook. Very cool! The writing was wonderful - G.G. (the main character) looks at the superpipe and sees the snow "like a wall of death". She uses the term "weird" to describe some of the phrases adults use without a second thought but make no sense to children (like referring to your feet as dogs). Too funny! It makes me want to go learn how to snowboard too! I highly recommend this - great to read aloud with your children or for a new reader just starting with chapter books. Can't wait for the next in this series!

[Anne Eliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful little book about friendships and about learning how to snowboard!

This one is a first in a series and is by my friend Marty Mokler Banks who's written it with her niece who was a member of the US Snowboard team. It's also got some great pictures--and a wonderful addition to an early chapter book reader's list. It's the first in a series about kids, sports and friendship. I like how this one is big on friendship, family, facing challenges and fears, and how kids need to try sports that might seem strange and scary at first, but after you give it a try you learn fast and always wind up smiling and making new friends.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I know this book was written for younger children I read it before sending it on to my great-niece. While I found the book very informative in respect to snowboarding, I found the main character undeveloped and had no real connection to her or any of the other characters...rather felt more like a how to snowboard book than a story. Will pass this on and get feedback from my niece, perhaps I am just too old for this book.

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be somewhere in the middle of fictkon and nonfiction. The story isn't much--girl tries snowboarding and after a few challenges, get pretty good at it--but that's not the point of the book. This is the book you want to give your little boarder before they get on the first time, so they know what to expect and aren't too impatient with the process. It's one thing for an adult to say, "You're going to fall down a lot," and another to sympathize with G.G.

[Jennie Marts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! Great choice for elementary age. Its a great read aloud book or good for new readers. The pictures were fun and so timely with the Olympics right around the corner. G.G. was adorable with her funny, spunky attitude and the snowboard action was such fun! Looking forward to this series.

[Umba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of new and different with the cool photos. Different for this type of book, and it works really well. And all kids want to learn to snowboard, so this will speak to those who have and those who just dream about it. A good book for pre-Olympic time, too.

[Toni Olivieri-barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a friend talking to you. Great new chapter book to add to my library. The author Marty Banks came to my school today and talked to 2-4th graders. Students were begging to check out he book. Great book!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I have yet to read this book, two of my four Grandchildren have read it. Both girls (ages 9 & 10) can not wait for the next book. Both were unable to put the book down, they wanted to keep reading (very good sign). Now to see what the Boys think (8 year old twins)

[Rickie Hinrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

We dream of things we would like to do, sometimes those dreams come true in this case her dream came true. Then along the way the impossible happens, it really becomes exciting. Thank You Goodreads for the free book, even for an adult there is something to learn.

[Chris Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book about a young girl learning to snowboard. With all the pitfalls of learning an intense sport, GG learns to laugh and there are plenty of them.

[Habibah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually did not read this book. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway (thank you!) and had my niece read it. That is her rating- she said it was "ok"!