The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali

Using dazzling, sometimes rhyming prose printed in a funky font, this book pays wonderful tribute to Ali's own fancy footwork and clever taunts. Most kids today likely have no idea who Muhammad Ali is, but they deserve this kind of introduction to the charismatic, champion athlete both for his own impressive history and a better understanding of the tumultuous times in which he became The Champ. The book effectively shares Ali's humble beginnings and credits his commitment and impressive tenacity in helping him persevere.

Ali was more than an athlete, and his story is an impressive one. Smart, charismatic and driven, he stood up for what he believed in (refusing the draft) in spite of being threatened with prison. However your family looks back at those difficult times, his story is a good way to explore American history. Parents may want to give it a read-through before story time to prepare themselves for age-appropriate discussions about race, religion, or the Vietnam War. Or perhaps kids will be more focused on the vibrant, choppy, colorful pictures that -- like the font and liberal quotes -- help convey the action as well as the difficulties of that time.