Grit. Perseverance. The ability to keep going when the going is hard. Everyone wants these qualities, and one way that girls (and boys!) become stronger and more resilient is simply by realizing how strong and resilient they already are. Running provides a pathway to that realization, helping kids discover inner fortitude.

Refusing to quit, overcoming obstacles and self-doubt to finish a long run, the resolute narrator of I Am Darn Tough realizes that she is strong inside and out. This beautifully illustrated story can inspire any child, anytime, who wants to run toward greater confidence in herself.

“A unique and much needed story about sporty girls and one that should have universal appeal.” — Youth Services Book Review

“A necessary purchase; a surprisingly poetic glimpse of the heart of the athlete, with a welcome, winning heroine.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“What Morelli and Diaz do remarkably well is show what the girl thinks about and sees with each step and how that fuels her to keep going and not give up. A tender introduction to the discipline and community that running provides its athletes.” — Kirkus Reviews