Winter, J. & Roca, F. (2007). Muhammad Ali: Champion of the World. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 978-0-375-93787-3
The story of Muhammed Ali’s rise to boxing champion told with biblical allusions and cadence. Tells of his boxing success, war troubles, and racism he faced.
Media - Oil paintings
Rating - 5Q/4P
Literary Devices - Rhythm – the biblical phrasing of the story creates a religious cadence to the reading. Ali’s rhymes (i.e. float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, you can’t hit what you can’t see) further the rhythmic quality of the text.
Curriculum Connection - Elementary school; can be used in the social studies curriculum for Vietnam war or Islam and as a biography.
MBallenger 5/4/08
Winter, J. (2007). Muhammad Ali : champion of the world. Illustrated by Francois Roca. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.
Artwork: Oil paintings
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83622-0
With biblical phrasing and intense oil-painting illustrations, this biography of Ali sequences the obstacles and triumphs he encountered as he challenged racism, embraced the Muslim faith, and persevered to become the heavyweight champion of the world. This book honors the man as both a hero and a human being.
Curricular connection: Vietnam War/Civil rights/ Grade 11/ CA HSS 11.9 and 11.10
Subjects: Boxing; Perseverance; Religious convictions
Theme: Talent, hard work, and the courage of one’s convictions can lead to a successful life.
Literary Device: Allusion
Category: Non-fiction 796.83; Biography
Age Level Recommendation: Upper Elementary
Rating: 4Q/4P
Discussion of the Potential for Controversy: Jonah Winters’ Muhammad Ali: Champion of the World, a biographical tribute to the boxing legend, uses biblical phrasing and rhythms to present the sports icon as a modern-day prophet. "IN THE BEGINNING was Jack Johnson... the first black king in the Kingdom of Boxing.... / And some many years later...God said, LET THERE BE JOE LOUIS, for the world was now ready for another black champion." Then, to introduce Ali -- "And the heavens opened up, and there appeared a great man descending on a cloud, jump-roping into the Kingdom of Boxing." A Muslim convert, Ali battled both in the boxing ring and in society as a man of color. His opposition to the Vietnam War cost him years of competition. As a national figure, he gave a voice to the cause of civil rights. Although he is larger-than-life, portraying him in this manner is potentially offensive to some readers who may feel uncomfortable with biblical references, most specifically the allusion to the life of Moses and God’s role in creation. The maturity of these themes is what makes this picture book most appropriate for older readers. Although some may say that it is overly religious, the depiction of Ali as conquering adversity and becoming a role model as Moses did seems a fitting comparison. The analogy is not intended as proselytizing. In fact, the sophisticated nature of the analogy would make for a great higher-level classroom discussion. Winters himself has commented, “As a nonfiction children's book writer, I see it as my job to educate children about historical figures who are either under-reported in the curriculum or else who, like Muhammad Ali or Roberto Clemente, were mavericks in standing up to a racist culture and carving a path for other members of their respective cultures. If I can make a difference in raising the tolerance and knowledge levels of today's children, then I feel as if I'm doing my job.” He went on to say, “I have not met Muhammad Ali. I think of him as a distant, almost unapproachable prophet, as is reflected in my biblical treatment of him in the book.”
Quoted in the 2-5-08 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08036/854730-42.stm
AAS 5-4-08
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