12 Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammed Ali

By: Charles R. Smith

"From the moment a fired-up teenager won 1960 Olympic gold to the day when a retired legend, hands shaking from Parkinson’s, returned to raise the Olympic torch, the boxer known as "The Greatest" waged many a fight. Some were in the ring, against opponents like Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier; others were against societal prejudice and a war he refused to support because of his Islamic faith. The rap-inspired verse weaves and bobs and jabs, while bold collage artwork matches every move, capturing the "Louisville loudmouth with the great gift of rhyme" who shed the name Cassius Clay to take on the world as Muhammad Ali. Back matter includes a time line."

Awards:

• Coretta Scott King Book Honor Award

Discussion Questions:

• Have you heard of Muhammad Ali? If so, what do you know about him?

• What is the title of the book?

• Who and what do you see on the cover of the book? What do you think the book might be about?

Read Aloud (starts at 5:35---author reading half the book)