Jimmy the Greatest! /pdf

June 1, 2012

Gr 1-3-Jimmy lives in a small village near the sea where the only activity seems to happen at a tiny gym. There, Don Apolinar notices the child, introduces him to books and newspaper clippings about Muhammad Ali, and encourages him to read and box. As Jimmy learns about Ali and becomes stronger through his boxing exercises, he imagines he and his hero are alike, "Handsome and smart..." and his self-esteem begins to grow. The title, in fact, refers to Ali's oft-uttered, "I am the greatest!" When Don Apolinar leaves for the big city, Jimmy realizes that he is satisfied with what he has for now and commits to maintaining the gym and starting a library. Buitrago's spare text is well served by Yockteng's digitally created, stylized cartoons. The muted palette emphasizes the sand and sea, while the carefully composed pictures draw readers' eyes to the important elements of the story and capitalize on its subtle good humor. This gentle tale of self-fulfillment and acceptance will be a winning addition to collections. The Spanish edition, published in 2010, has been nominated for Best Books of the Year by Venezuela's Banco del Libro.-Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2012
Preschool-G *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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)