Joe Louis, My Champion - Softcover

William Miller

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1600604269 ISBN 13: 9781600604263

Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 2004

Synopsis

After listening to the radio broadcast of the heavyweight championship boxing fight of his hero, Joe Louis, a young African American boy realizes that he can emulate the boxer and strive to become whatever he wants to be.

About this title

About the Author:

William Miller is the award-winning author of numerous books for children for LEE & LOW (see full list to the right). Mr. Miller lives in York, Pennsylvania, where he teaches African American literature and creative writing at York College.

Rodney S. Pate has been illustrating books for children for more than twenty years, and his fine art work has been exhibited at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. Currently Pate also works as a graphic designer for a software company. He lives in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

From Booklist:

K-Gr. 3. Sammy yearns to be just like boxer Joe Louis. Growing up in a rural African American community in 1937, as the upcoming fight between Louis and Braddock is on everyone's mind, Sammy takes boxing lessons from Ernie, a bigger, stronger friend. When Sammy becomes discouraged about his potential as a boxer, Papa, Ernie, and storekeeper Mister Jake help him realize that he doesn't have to be a boxer to be like Joe Louis. If he works hard, he can overcome racial prejudice and become a champion in any field he chooses. An afterword gives information about Louis' life, his career, and his significance to African Americans. Written in first person from Sammy's point of view, the story is involving as well as purposeful. Pate's luminous oil paintings bring the era to life with well-individualized portrayals of people, some beautiful landscapes as backgrounds, and the effective use of monochromatic paintings to show the boxing match heard over the only radio in town. An effective look back. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Lee & Low Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1600604269
• ISBN 13: 9781600604263
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Rodney Pate