Joe Louis, My Champion

"In this stirring picture book, Joe Louis inspires a young African American boy named Sammy to reach for his dreams. It is 1937, and Louis is poised to be the heavyweight champion of the world. Sammy wants to be a boxer just like his hero, but to his utter frustration, he lacks the necessary physical prowess. After a pep talk from his friend, gentle words from his father, and careful introspection, the boy learns an important lesson. Though he may not be able to follow in the footsteps of Big Joe, he can strive to be the best at his own endeavors. Realistic oil paintings, many covering two pages, carry the story along. A glowing afterword highlights Louis's career and exemplary character. This offering will have particular appeal to fans of the Brown Bomber, but its upbeat message is universal."

"One of the watershed moments in African-American history — the defeat of James Braddock at the hands of Joe Louis — is here given an earnest picture-book treatment. Despite his lack of athletic ability, Sammy wants desperately to be a great boxer, like his hero, getting boxing lessons from his friend Ernie in exchange for help with schoolwork. However hard he tries, though, Sammy just can't box, and his father comforts him, reminding him that he doesn't need to box; Joe Louis has shown him that he 'can be the champion at anything [he] want[s].' The high point of this offering is the big fight itself, everyone crowded around the radio in Mister Jake's general store, the imagined fight scenes played out in soft-edged sepia frames."