Muhammad Ali: A Champion is Born
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
In this picture book biography of Muhammad Ali, author Gene Barretta and illustrator Frank Morrison tell the unforgettable childhood story of this legendary boxing champion and how one pivotal moment set him on his path to become the Greatest of All Time.
The Louisville Lip. The Greatest. The People’s Champion. Muhammad Ali had many nicknames. But before he became one of the most recognizable faces in the world, before the nicknames and the championships, before he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, he was twelve-year-old Cassius Clay riding a brand-new red-and-white bicycle through the streets of Louisville, Kentucky. One fateful day, this proud and bold young boy had that bike stolen, his prized possession, and he wouldn’t let it go. Not without a fight.
This would be the day he discovered boxing. And a champion was born.
Reviews
NY Times: “He owed it all to a stolen bicycle,” Barretta writes in this playful, dynamic look at the champion’s quest for greatness . . . Morrison (“The Quickest Kid in Clarksville”) gives the art a joyful zing and a serious yet eminently kid-friendly vibe.”
Booklist: “Illustrations in oils in rich browns, shades of grays, and white highlights show the fighter Muhammad Ali in many action poses exhibiting his strength and lightning speed . . . Sure to provide inspiration for young readers.”
Publisher’s Weekly: “Barretta (Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare) looks at how Muhammad Ali’s boxing career got its start: after the young Cassius Clay’s bike was stolen, a Louisville police officer encouraged him to spend time at a local boxing gym. Working in acrylic, Morrison (The Quickest Kid in Clarksville) creates visceral, dynamic action shots.”
School Library Journal: “Morrison’s dynamic oil paintings complement Barretta’s lively text, capturing a self-assured Ali in detailed spreads. Action scenes full of movement and intensity draw readers into the boxing ring and depict Ali’s growth from a gangly youth to a dominant athlete. Two pages of unfailingly positive biographical information fill in the rest of Ali’s career.”
NY Journal of Books: “There is a new picture book by award-winning author Gene Barretta called Muhammad Ali: A Champion Is Born, and it is lovely beyond words . . . Readers who think they know everything there is to know about Muhammad Ali will love learning about his life before he became Ali . . . Barretta’s style of writing is fast-paced, realistic, and touching on an elemental level . . . Award-winning artist Frank Morrison handles the illustrations with dignity and flare. Working with what are called “dynamic acrylics,” Morrison captures the very essence of what made Cassius “Ali.”
St. Louis Dispatch: “Gene Barretta and illustrated by Frank Morrison presents a biography of the champion that will connect with kids . . . The book emphasizes the positive role model Ali became as he fought against racial and religious prejudice.”
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HONORS
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2016 - “Muhammad Ali” is mentioned in Publisher’s Weekly’s African-American Interest Young Reader’s Titles, 2016–2017
