Customer Reviews

The Champ

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't believe in hero worship, let alone living hero worship but Ali comes as close to a hero as you can get. This book does a good job of sheding light on why Ali is idolized and held in reverence by so many people throughout the world. The book moves quickly through the major events of Ali's life in a manner that is easy to digest for young, impressionable minds. The children's book is light and easy to hold and has plenty of art to capture the imagination. As with any children's book it is important to add information and clarity to subjects brought about in the book. For example, when the issue of the draft and his refusal to go into the Army is raised, the adult should explain, in more depth, about the time period; supplement the information ,if you will. The unorthodox written style, a free-verse structure, that is highlighted by the text being in different sizes, sometimes straight, some times at an angle, results in a fun and clever way at looking at a children's book. As with many children's books, the art work is one of the major strengths of the book. The art is as exuberant as the the subject matter. This book is a nice introduction into the life of Muhammad Ali for children in the primary grades. Recommended for community and primary grade libraries K-6.

It's hard to distill a complex adult's whole life into a picture book, but it's well done here. Cassius Clay become Ali, losses, recapture of the championships, his defeats, his major life changes are well presented with impressionist art. This could be a good core title to challenge young researchers on how they would condense a person's life into a 32-page picture book, and because there is not one iota of "cute" in this, it would be effectively used in a biographies unit at any grade level. SOmetimes picture book biographies tend toward "sappy" but this one maintains its rhythm and integrity well.

Controversy dogged the boxer born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., much of it invited. It's all here - the rhyming brags and swagger that earned him headlines and ruffled opponents, his conversion to the Nation of Islam, his refusal to serve in Vietnam and subsequent court battle.

He was either an inspirational symbol of defiance against injustice, or a loudmouth buffoon who overstayed his welcome in the ring, depending on your perspective. Nor does Bolden shy from his pathetic decline from too many blows to the head, leaving a palsied echo of the proud and loud pugilist.

Christie sums up entire bouts in a few expressionistic squiggles, and in the next frame can capture both the champ's grace and grit. The acrylic colors are bold, the brushstrokes bolder, as if any canvass - including the ones Ali fought on - could ever capture a character so much larger than life.