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Me and Muhammad Ali

Author Jabari Asim

Illustrated by AG Ford

Hardcover

$17.99 US

Penguin Young Readers | Nancy Paulsen Books

8.44"W x 11.25"H x 0.34"D (21.4 x 28.6 x 0.9 cm) | 13 oz (380 g) | 24 per carton

On sale Oct 18, 2022 | 32 Pages | 9781524739881

Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2

Reading Level: Lexile AD800L | Fountas & Pinnell O

Sales rights: World

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A little boy’s joyous encounter with his hero, boxing champion and poet Muhammad Ali, is everything he’s dreamed of—and more!

Like most of the kids he knows, Langston is a huge fan of boxing champ Muhammad Ali. After all, Ali is the greatest for so many reasons—his speed, his strength, his confidence—and his poetry. Langston loves that Ali can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, and Ali’s words give him confidence to spin his own poems. When Langston hears the champ is coming to the local high school, he’s ecstatic—this will be a day that will go down in history for him. When the big day arrives, Langston gets a special haircut, and floats like a butterfly to meet his hero—so imagine his disappointment when a guard tries to stop him at the door, saying the event is just for students. Fortunately, Langston has learned a thing or two about fearlessness from the champ and is quick about not taking “no” for an answer. And just like that, a dream comes true for Langston that leaves him feeling wrapped in a warm glow and chanting I’m quick and I’m strong. I’m Black and I’m free. I’m brave and I’m bold, like Muhammad Ali!

“From the Wall of Respect to the joyful schoolyard to the barbershop full of people, this is a delightful depiction of a close-knit African American community finding inspiration in one of its greatest legends. The poetic text is an enjoyable read-aloud, and Ford generates excitement on each page with a combination of movement-based portraits, community scenes, and expressive faces. This bundle of Black joy belongs on every bookshelf.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Asim's vivid prose captures the spirit and enthusiasm associated with the charismatic Ali, and local setting details, including the Wall of Respect mural and the local barbershop, are evocatively described. The text also incorporates several original rhymes composed in Ali's style. Ford's vibrant illustrations, rendered in acrylic and colored pencil, feature rich hues filled with many setting details. Several spreads also highlight Ali's athleticism and agility, expressed in multicolored zigzags, starbursts, and exclamations. An author's note explains the many reasons Ali was revered and describes the 1975 incident that inspired this story.” —Booklist

“Based on a real experience, this is a lovely little ode to meeting your heroes . . . the celebratory tone is infectious. References to other Black athletes and historical figures, as well as the Wall of Respect mural in Chicago bring context. . . . Ford’s illustrations, rendered in acrylics and colored pencils, shine with depth and texture . . . joyous expressions and saturated backgrounds maintain visual appeal. Fans of boxing and/or the ‘The Greatest’ are the obvious audience here, but this is also a cheerful slice-of-life look at a Black community in 1970s Chicago.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The illustrations in colored pencil and acrylic vibrate with energy. The people and neighborhood are shown in detail and convey everyone’s personality. An author’s note explains why Ali appealed to Asim, and that Langston’s experience was based on how his own mother met the champ. . . . A delightful story about meeting one’s hero and feeling empowered by it, this heartwarming book is a strong first purchase and is bound to be a story hour hit.” —School Library Journal

“Uplifting picture book. . . . With vibrant colors, Ford’s acrylic paintings evoke the pride Langston and his community take in Ali.” —Publishers Weekly

“The lively third-person narrative and the bright acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations are a one-two punch that will hook readers. An author’s note adds more information about Ali’s influence and explains the story’s roots in an actual event.” —Horn Book

Jabari Asim is the author of What Obama Means . . . For Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future, The N Word, and several books for children. He is also a scholar-in-residence at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and editor-in-chief of The Crisis, the magazine of the NAACP. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Essence, Ebony, and other publications. He recently was honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship.

View titles by Jabari Asim

AG FORD is a three-time New York Times bestselling children’s book illustrator and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards. He has illustrated picture books by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Robinson, Ilyasah Shabazz, Martin Luther King III, Nick Cannon, Jonah Winter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others. He lives with his family in Frisco, Texas. Visit him online at agfordillustration.com. View titles by AG Ford

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