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In the history of legendary boxers, there was Joe Louis and Sonny Liston . . . and then, “the heavens opened up, and there appeared a great man descending on a cloud, jump-roping into the Kingdom of Boxing. And he was called Cassius Clay.” Clay let everyone know that he was the greatest boxer in the world. He converted to the Nation of Islam, refused to be drafted into a war in which he didn’t believe, and boxed his way back to the top after being stripped of his title. The man that came to be known as Muhammad Ali was heard in a voice no one will ever forget.
In the history of legendary boxers, there was Joe Louis and Sonny Liston . . . and then, “the heavens opened up, and there appeared a great man descending on a cloud, jump-roping into the Kingdom of Boxing. And he was called Cassius Clay.” Clay let everyone know that he was the greatest boxer in the world. He converted to the Nation of Islam, refused to be drafted into a war in which he didn’t believe, and boxed his way back to the top after being stripped of his title. The man that came to be known as Muhammad Ali was heard in a voice no one will ever forget.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
About the Author-
JONAH WINTER is the author of many acclaimed picture books, including Dizzy, about Dizzy Gillespie; Diego, a biography of Diego Rivera; Frida, about artist Fried Kahlo, which was a Parents’ Choice Gold Medal winner; and The 39 Apartments of Ludwig Van Beethoven. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
FRANÇOIS ROCA is the illustrator of several books, including Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing by April Prince Jones. He lives in Paris.
Reviews-
December 24, 2007 With biblical references and a reverential tone, this lyrical story of Muhammad Ali paints the fighter (and the history of African-American boxers) in mythic proportions: “In the beginning was Jack Johnson.” A subsequent spread features posters of Joe Louis and Sonny Liston, but the grand introduction is saved for Ali, shown running in the rain by night: “And the heavens opened up,/ and there appeared a great man/ descending on a cloud, jump-roping/ into the Kingdom of Boxing./ And he was called Cassius Clay .” Roca's (Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing ) strikingly realistic oil illustrations pack a powerful punch, and his use of light recalls Edward Hopper. He also captures subtle and overt emotions in facial gestures—Ali exudes braggadocio before his match with Liston, and in another scene, white reporters' faces register skepticism at his boasts. Winter's (Diego ) cadenced, non-rhyming verse highlights just a few episodes from Ali's career and glorifies him as a king and near-miraculous savior, rather than emphasizing hard work on his part, but the result is no less inspiring (“Muhammad Ali was a new kind of boxer—/ and a new kind of person./ And he was creating a new way/ for African Americans to be”). Alongside the veneration is the subtle message that children, too, can achieve all that they imagine. Ages 4-8.
January 1, 2008 Gr 2-5-Winter and Roca offer a rousing tribute to Ali's spirit, determination, and strength of will in this picture-book biography. With strong, declarative language laced with religious phrases, it portrays Ali as "a kind of prophetlarger than life, larger than just a sports hero." Briefly limning the champions who preceded himJack Johnson, Joe Louis, and Sonny Listonthe author announces Ali's arrival with theatrical bombast: "And the heavens opened up, /and there appeared a great man/descending on a cloud, jump-roping/into the Kingdom of Boxing." Ali proved triumphant in the boxing ring and forged a bold path: "TALKING and TALKING and TALKING and TALKING." Ali spoke out against racism; refused to fight in the Vietnam War; and boxed, danced, and talked his way to his greatest fight, 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle" versus George Foreman. Winter's highly charged prose is well matched by Roca's eye-catching oil paintings, which vividly capture Ali's proud, defiant character and detail the racism he encountered and the hero worship he inspired. This is not a comprehensive biography, but it does a fine job of introducing readers to Ali's life and legacy."Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from February 1, 2008 Muhammad Ali: Champion of the World begins not with Ali, but with Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight champion of the world, and then moves on to champions Joe Louis and Sonny Liston. All were great in the ring, but as Winter has God ask: Is that all there is to a boxer? It is not, of course. There appeared a great man descending on a cloud, jump-roping into the Kingdom of Boxing, and Ali is portrayed running alongside a fifties Cadillac in a driving rain. All of Alis considerablecharisma isvividly captured byRocas oil paintingswe see Ali both leading groups of people and facing off in the ring, and always he has that gleam in his eye that could be mischievous or turnmalignant. As it tells the story of Alis career, culminating with his triumph in the Rumble in the Jungle, this book skillfully introduces young readers not only to Alis career and life story but also to his significance. Muhammad Ali was a new kind of boxerand a new kind of person, the kind of African American who is proud, strong, willing to fight.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)
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