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Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY BUI | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY BUI | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Listed as one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus, honored with the Horn Book Fanfare, and selected for the School Library Journal's 100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2012
Jimmy lives in a small town by the sea where there is just one tiny gym. The owner of the gym suggests that Jimmy start training, and to inspire him, he gives Jimmy a box full of books, as well as newspaper clippings about Muhammad Ali - "The Greatest." Jimmy is swept with admiration for Ali. He begins to read and run and box like crazy, even though someone at the gym has taken his shoes. And as he does so, he makes a great discovery: you don't have to leave home to be "the greatest."
Unlike many stories about emigration, Jairo Buitrago's simple, profound text is about someone who decides to stay in his small remote town in Latin America. Combined with Rafael Yockteng's humorous illustrations, this book will be especially appealing to boys and boxing aficionados.
The Spanish edition, ¡Jimmy, el más grande!, was recently nominated for one of "Los mejores libros del año" (Best Books of the Year) by Venezuela's Banco del Libro.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
Author Notes
Jairo Buitrago is a children's book author who has collaborated with Rafael Yockteng on several picture books, including Jimmy the Greatest! (six starred reviews), Two White Rabbits (three starred reviews) and Walk with Me (three starred reviews, Kirkus Prize shortlist). They won the "A la Orilla del Viento" contest for the Spanish edition of Walk with Me, which was also named to IBBY's Honor List. Their books have also appeared on "Los mejores libros del año" (Venezuela's Banco del Libro), Kirkus Best Books, the Horn Book Fanfare and in the White Ravens Catalogue. Jairo lives in Mexico City.
Rafael Yockteng has illustrated many highly acclaimed children's books, including Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup by Jorge Argueta (USBBY Outstanding International Books) and Jimmy the Greatest! (six starred reviews), Two White Rabbits (three starred reviews), Walk with Me (three starred reviews, Kirkus Prize shortlist) and On the Other Side of the Garden (three starred reviews) by Jairo Buitrago. Together, Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng have won the "A la Orilla del Viento" contest, and their books have been included on IBBY's Honor List, "Los mejores libros del año" (Venezuela's Banco del Libro), Kirkus Best Books, the Horn Book Fanfare and in the White Ravens Catalogue. Rafael lives in Bogotá.
Elisa Amado is a Guatemalan-born author and translator. Her books have been on the Américas Award Commended List and on USBBY's Outstanding International Books List. She lives in Toronto.Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
This poignant, funny creation from the team behind Sopa de frijoles/Bean Soup seems to promise big things for its hero. Wide-eyed Jimmy lives in a ramshackle, tin-roofed village, painted by Yockteng in a style that's half folk-naif, half Matt Groening. Jimmy finds out about Muhammad Ali from a boxful of old newspapers and, galvanized, starts training in the local gym. "He wasn't thinking about what he didn't have anymore.... He didn't need much stuff to run." As he gains confidence-"Not many people dared to get in the ring with him"-momentum builds. But it's Jimmy's trainer, Don Apolinar, who leaves for the big city, while Jimmy stays behind; he ends up coaching kids at the gym. "This is my town," he says. "There are donkeys, three sheep and the great huge sea.... But we're really great." Readers expecting a triumphant, Rocky-like ending get a taste of Jimmy's disappointment instead. Buitrago isn't preaching, either-Jimmy's just an ordinary guy, not a moral hero. This is a genuine, bighearted picture of life in a Third World village that neither romanticizes poverty nor evokes pity-and it packs a powerful punch. Ages 4-7. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
What happens when a boy from a nondescript small town grows up to be a talented boxer? Most would dream of bigger and better places, but not young Jimmy. When gym owner Don Apolinar encourages him to start running (despite his missing shoes), Jimmy decides he will become a boxer, inspired by a box of clippings and books about Muhammad Ali. When his trainer leaves to make his fortune, Jimmy makes a poignant and surprising decision to stay and support his little town with a library and a fixed-up boxing gym. This town could be anywhere in the tropics, but the (Colombian) author and illustrator do not identify it, giving the book more universal appeal. The background colors of the illustrations -- the brilliant blues of the sea and the tempered beige of the sand -- highlight the stylized brown villagers, including lanky Jim and bearded Apolinar. Understated poetic language permeates the whole story, but the last page soars. "There are no elegant houses / or fancy things. / But we're really great. / We dance and we box / and we don't / sit around waiting / to go someplace else." In a world where so many must leave their homes to find work, it's inspiring to see Jimmy able to do a truly great thing, right where he wants to be. robin l. smith (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* In a poor village on the ocean, young Jimmy's future is looking bright since the owner of a tiny gym inspired him to run, to read, and to train as a boxer like Muhammad Ali. Even without any shoes, Jimmy discovers that you don't need much stuff to run or to get others to follow along. But, unlike his trainer, who leaves for a life in the big city, Jimmy the Greatest stays in the village, where he grows up to maintain the gym, create a library, and help his people. He does great things, but not by leaving home for the world stage. Translated from the Spanish and first published in Colombia, this title features text that reads like spare poetry and digital, cartoon-style artwork filled with humorous details and stylized, pop-eyed characters. Each page shows the daily struggle in the rough shanty town. Best of all is the image of Jimmy as a boy reading and shadow-boxing at the same time. A final spread, showing new wires stretching across the village, is a moving conclusion to this unusual, quietly powerful title.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Jimmy lives in a small Caribbean town with "one small church and if you're lucky, a little gym where you can hit a punching bag." At the gym, Jimmy learns about the history and struggles of boxer Muhammad Ali and is discovered by trainer Don Apolinar. Seeing similarities between Ali and himself, Jimmy reads and re-reads the books and clippings about Ali that Apolinar gave him-even while he shadowboxes. When Don leaves the community, Jimmy stays to "maintain the gym" and "create a library." Meager text (translated from the Spanish by Elisa Amado), peppered with Ali-like phrasing and subtle, expressive illustrations by Rafael Yockteng creates an atypical story of loving who you are and your community. More than a passing mention of creating a library and Jimmy's quest for respect and dignity could have given Buitrago's story (Groundwood, 2010) more substance. Children are drawn to the boxing legend's story, so Jimmy's interest in Ali and the clippings and books he reads can be tied to fact vs. fiction, biography, and cultural diversity lessons. Luis Moreno's narration is precise and well paced, and he varies his delivery appropriately while quoting Ali. Page-turn signals are optional.-Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In a thought-provoking twist on the usual immigrant story, a village lad elects to stay put. Though Jimmy's town is just a scattering of shacks on a broad beach, there is a tiny gym, owned by Don Apolinar. He gives Jimmy a box full of books and clippings about Muhammad Ali that sparks a yen in the boy to become a boxer. Yockteng depicts the tall, dark-skinned lad running across a sun-drenched landscape at the head of a gaggle of laughing children. He shadow boxes and demonstrates his strength by letting a goat butt him in the chest, carrying huge loads of fish and other feats. But when Don Apolinar departs for the big city, where there are "real jobs," Jimmy decides to stay, taking over the gym and adding a library to it. "Maybe one day he'll get a match," the narrative concludes, but then it gives Jimmy the last words: "Listen to me. / This is my town. / / We dance and we box / and we don't / sit around waiting / to go someplace else." Idealized as it may be, the idyllic setting and smiling, bright-eyed faces on view in the illustrations make his choice easy to understand. Eye-opening inspiration in this unassuming import from Colombia. (Picture book. 6-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Excerpts
Excerpts
Don Apolinar gave him a cardboard box filled with books and newspaper clippings. There was also a note saying,"Muhammad Ali's bike was stolen when he was little." But, who was Muhammed Ali? Jimmy read and re-read the books and clippings. He read as he never had before using the glasses that he had never worn . . . His mother was surprised to see Jimmy reading and shadow-boxing at the same time. Excerpted from Jimmy the Greatest! by Jairo Buitrago All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
