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| Multicultural Biography |
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!" This biography about Muhammad Ali, one of the world's most famous boxers is great for primary to intermediate readers. It tells how Ali grew up in the Louisville, KY and came to love boxing. He was so fast, he used to ask his brother to throw rocks at him, so he could dodge them! His brother said he could never hit Ali. He was named after his father, Cassius Clay, and later changed his name when he became a Muslim. This is a great story of strength and perseverance because Ali faced many struggles along his journey to becoming the Champ, but kept on moving forward with joy in his heart. He was forced to retire when his health was threatened from boxing too long, but people continue to revere him today. The different hues and skewed lines within the illustrations create an abstract version of reality that add a lighthearted sense to the serious nature of the story. I especially enjoy this story because my brothers grew up with boxing and I love how Ali keeps the faith amidst his trials and tribulations. This would be a great story to introduce during black history month or to motivate a struggling student.
Response questions:
1. What event sparked Ali to become a boxer?
2. How did people respond to Ali converting to the Islam faith and why?
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| A look inside the book! |
In the classroom...
1. Have children share about a time when they had to stand up for something they believed in, and how they felt afterwards.
2. Create a timeline of events in Ali's life and compare these events to society today versus society in the past.
About the author:
Tony Bolden has written many books featuring the lives of African-Americans, including
MLK: Journey of a King and
Searching for Sarah Rector. The author is a native to New York and a known for her work in education and children's literature.
References:
Bolden, Tonya. (2004). The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
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