Salt in His Shoes

This book was about Michael Jordan, the basketball player. As a youth, he wasn't confident about his skills as a player. He was concerned about his height, and he complained to his mother about it. His mother told him to pray and put salt in his shoes. Michael wondered how the salt can cause him to grow. He believed his mother should know how to make him grow, because she had skill in raising flowers. Mother sprinkled salt in his shoes. Michael's growth was slow in coming. He gained his confidence back when he shot the winning points in a basketball game before he grew an inch. Michael grew to reach the height of six-foot-six-inches, and he became a basketball star! Wow! The illustrations in this book are amazing. I looked through the pages several times to look at the pictures. I think the illustrator did a wonder job drawing the people. The muscles in the arms and legs were the work of a skilled artist! The text is inspiring to young people.

This book has it all. Kadir Nelson's illustrations immediately capture your attention. The cover is representative of the size and quality of pictures throughout the book. I've used this book in my classroom. Kids love it. Both boys and girls enjoy the story of the young Michael Jordan. They relate to going up against the big kid and wanting to change physically (in this case to become taller). Some kids even admit to putting salt in their shoes. The family support in this story provides the direction he needs to accomplish his goal of becoming a great basketball player and becoming the playground hero. Great message, great story, great illustrations. Everyone needs to realize the importance of hard work, determination, and believing in a little Michael Jordan magic. We want to encourage our kids to reach for the stars, and this book helps do that.

I had the privelege of meeting Mrs. Jordan and Roslyn at a recent booksigning in Chicago. To hear both these amazing ladies speak, was inspirational and makes one realize that Michael Jordan's family is also the salt of the earth. Futhermore, in their remarks, they stressed how they are just an ordinary family who happened to raise an extraordinary talent; however, their family was, and continues to be, the source of his strength, determination, and self-confidence. Not only is the story told in "Salt in His Shoes" inspiring to children, it has basic lessons to which a person of any age can relate. The book is wonderfully illustrated, and the text is lively and endearing. How wonderful that Mrs. Jordan and Roslyn shared this family story with us, emphasizing that while Michael was the center of the story, the lessons of the book go beyond Michael Jordan because it is all about family.

I saw Deloris Jordan and Roslyn Jordan interviewed on one of the morning shows and was anxious to get this book and share it with my second graders. I was not disappointed. I'm always looking for real life role models to tell the kids about and Michael Jordan and his determination to achieve his dream really fit the bill. It had so many elements in it that are important for today's kids...ignoring bullies, looking to your families for support, not giving up, keeping your eye on a dream, knowing what you want in life. I hope that my students remember the lessons taught in this fine story and at least begin to learn what can be achieved.

This is a wonderful story -- and would be even if it weren't about such a star -- about a scrawny little kid who keeps trying and trying and trying, all the while encouraged by his very loving family. I bought it because I loved the jacket and the illustrations -- but am reading it again and again to my little boy because he always asks to hear it. It's inspiring and funny and just a neat book.