Interior illustrations from Strong written by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood with illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, Little Brown YR ©2022. At his fittest, he could lift over 400 pounds which is more than a refrigerator! The art and prose depict how committed Rob became and how he trained before school by running, swimming, and lifting all sorts of things. To qualify, he’d have to be able to pull a vehicle, flip an enormous tire, lift a log over his head, and lots more that’s described in fascinating backmatter. He learned it was SO much more than lifting heavy weights. Rob’s life was forever changed after being introduced to the Strongman competition at age 17. Interior spread from Strong written by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood with illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, Little Brown YR ©2022. It required him to use every muscle in his body.” Sentences like this one give readers a wonderful understanding of what it was that appealed to Rob and why he ultimately pursued weightlifting as a career. “But Rob’s favorite sport was weightlifting. This powerful ability made him feel good about himself as his interest in weightlifting blossomed.

He could easily pull a tug-of-war rope or lift cheerleaders sky-high. In this accessible biography, readers learn how, from an early age, Rob Kearney showed an affinity for lifting heavy things whether that was milk bottles or bags filled with groceries. Strong is the kind of feel-good picture book that demonstrates to children, through a real-life example, the benefits of being true to themselves and following their dreams. Ages 4–8.It may be the last day of Pride Month, but here’s a book worth celebrating year round!

Back matter includes a letter from Kearney, further reading, and information about strongman competitions. Authors Kearney and Rosswood develop this picture book memoir about the world’s first openly gay strongman using emphatic text, while Chanani’s vivid hues emphasize Kearney’s bold aesthetic, and depict his 2017 North American Strongest Man Championship donning his iconic rainbow mohawk. He even skips wearing vibrantly hued clothes, adhering to the cliché around masculinity that “strongmen do not wear bright, bold colors.” But in chatting with now-husband Joey, Kearney learns that expressing himself authentically is what makes him strong. Interested in becoming a weightlifting champion, Kearney trains until he can lift 400 pounds (“That’s more than 114 BIRTHDAY CAKES WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING AND CONFETTI SPRINKLES!”). Growing up, Rob Kearney loved feeling strong: “He lifted HEAVY boxes, opened the TIGHTEST pickle jars, and always brought the groceries into the house in one trip.” As he matures, he plays football, cheerleads, and weightlifts until, at 17, he learns about strongman competitions.

Rob kearney strongman book