Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold

by Deloris Jordan, Barry Root (Illustrations)

Olympic dreams come true in this inspiring picture book from Michael Jordan’s mother, author of the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes .

Long before he became a professional All-Star basketball player, Michael Jordan had dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal—and with dedication and perseverance, that’s exactly what he did. This heartwarming picture book, written by Michael’s mother and illustrated by Barry Root, gives a rare glimpse into a sports hero’s childhood and emphasizes the role that good values play in success. An ideal companion to the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes , this is an inspirational story for sports fans, go-getters, and anyone with big dreams!

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Sports, Nonfiction, Childrens, School, Inspirational

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Deloris Jordan is Michael Jordan's mother and the coauthor of Salt in His Shoes and Michael's Golden Rules, illustrated by Kadir Nelson; Did I Tell You I Love You Today?, illustrated by Shane W. Evans; and Dream Big, illustrated by Barry Root.

Reviews

[Takee Jobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold by Deloris Jordan is a children’s biography. This book is written by Michael Jordan’s mother, as she narrates his childhood dream of one day becoming a professional basketball player in the Olympics. While Michaels’ friends aspired be an astronaut or pilot, he had dreams of becoming professional basketball player. Just like many young aspiring basketball stars, Jordan’s’ love for basketball is highlighted in illustrations of him as he “carried his basketball everywhere.” His passion for the game of basketball reminds me much of my sons, and I can relate to his mother as she has to continuously remind him to not play ball in the house. His mother has a strong influence is the storyline as she is continuously reminded him to put his schoolwork before basketball. This is an ideal read for children ages 4-8. The cartoon like illustrations in muted watercolor are remarkable. There is great detail in the illustrations as they help to narrate the inspiring story. This is a terrific story for young aspiring basketball players. I would also recommend this book as the perfect bedtime story for a child with ambitious dreams.

[Mario Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book, and not just because I was a Michael Jordan fan as a kid, but because of the message that it offers its readers, which was "That before you dream, you need to take care of business." In Michael's case, as told to him by his mom in the book, his business was about going to school and getting good grades. I thought that seeing Michael being told as a kid by his mom that he needed to do good in school before playing basketball outside with his friends, was something that you no longer see being echoed in the majority of today's families. Therefore, If I were to use this book I would use it as a teaching tool in school, to let kids know that they must do good at school first, before moving onto a career of their choice when they become adults. One last thing that I would like to add, is that this book was huge and its illustrations took up the majority of each page, which is sure to capture the attention of your youngest of readers.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story by Michael Jordan's own mother.
Michael dreamed of being on the Olympic basketball team.
This was an early in his life dream and worked hard to accomplish it
along with following mom's rule of lessons first.

Part of Deloris's message to the reader"....
Michael never gave up. A giant step, no. A series of small steps, day after day after day, yes.
Michael's big dream came true. So dream big and work hard and your dream might come true too!"

I borrowed this book because I'm exploring the work of Barry Root. His skill and shading in illustrating the people in this book is wonderful.

Now, I may be following the work of Delores.

[Jenese Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book about Michael Jordan dreaming of playing in the Olympics when he was younger. You get to read the story of how Michael has this dream goal and works hard so he could accomplish his goal. With support from his family and a lot of practice, Michael was finally able to do what he dreamed about: playing in the Olympics and winning a gold medal.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

NC690L. Olympic dreams come true in this inspiring picture book from Michael
Jordan's mother, author of theNew York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes.
Long before he became a professional All-Star basketball player, Michael
Jordan had dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal--and with dedication
and perseverance, that's exactly what he did.

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that this story is written by Michael Jordan's mother. The emphasis on schoolwork before sports and hard work, not luck, being the ticket to success are good lessons. I didn't expect L (8) to be particularly interested in this book, but she surprised me by refusing to give it away in our latest book purge.

[Bernardo Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is about putting in your effort and your place, and leaving a mark behind no matter how small of a mark but I think this is a great book to teach to kids about working hard towards your dreams and that if you do nothing about it, its not a high chance that it would happen and that it is better to take action rather than to not.

[Bryce Hall]

This book is about Michael Jordan and was written by Michael's mother, Deloris. It provides you with the sports legend's life as a child and shows you he had dreams when he was younger too, allowing young children to make connections to Jordan.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice basic story of Michael Jordan's life. Discusses how he reached his goal to play basketball for the USA Olympic team. Nice watercolor illustrations. Recommended for Grades K-2.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to dream I dream all the time and I want it to come true. Somtimes they do and some times they dont but that is ok. I love Michael Jordan

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second-favorite Michael Jordan picture book. Written by Jordan’s mother, the book has a pretty patriotic feel as it follows his path to the Dream Team and Olympic gold.

[YVONNE HAWKINS · Rating 5 out of 5]

#23

an entertaining story of Michael Jordan’s beginning. Very entertaining. Very easy for a young reader. This story held my grands attention very well.

[Callia Hutchison]

Biography

Grade level: 2-3

Lexile level: NC690L

[Faith Livensparger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade 2-3
Genre Biographical Nonfiction
This is a story based off of Michael Jordan's life. I liked this book, however it was not my favorite because reading about sports or athletes is not something that interests me. I think this book would be great for students who love basketball or Michael Jordan. I also liked how the book conveys the message to never give up no matter the set back.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of never giving up. The author, Deloris Jordan is Michael's grandmother.

[Teri S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Especially now that I have a son. This is a great motivational book for him. Dream big and make it come true!

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story with new perspective on the inner life of Michael Jordan, written by his mother :) Excellent illustrations as well. A touching book full of hard work and perseverance.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the other one: Michael dreamt of being Olympic winner from the age of 9 and did all he could to make his dream come true!

[Brenda Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This inspirational biography story about how Michael Jordan achieved his goal of winning an Olympic gold medal after watching the US Basketball team loses it bid to win the gold in 1972 is a must read for all. He had a series of small steps, practicing hard day after day, and he did whatever he needed to do to get to the Olympics. This book is intended for 4-8 years old. Young readers can benefit from reading this book because they will learn that with dedication and perseverance they too can achieve their dreams. The young readers can also read about the good values Michael Jordan had the contributes to his success. This book is available in ebook format also.

[Laura Weakland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for Notice and Note signposts - words of the wiser.

[Beth Maline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is going to my son (33) who adores Michael Jordan (actually, he thinks he IS Michael Jordan...a notion I have tried to dissuade him of, but he disagrees!!!) Written by Michael Jordan's mother, Deloris, it is intended to be inspirational for children, and tells the tale of a young Michael who got the Olympic 'bug' at age 9, and worked hard to achieve his dream of playing on the Olympic basketball team (a goal he achieved in 1984). The artwork in this book is simple, and the story is simple as well. The (not-so-underlying) message is 'work hard and you can achieve your goals' (with the undertone of) keep your dreams at the top of your wish list, but do your schoolwork, because at the end of the day, you need to be educated first.

And Mrs. Jordan is strong in saying to the reader that you should never ever never give up on your dreams not even for one single day. Michael Jordan is an inspiration to young athletes because of his talent and ability on the basketball court, but this story shows that he had other dreams and inspirations. And that he did his schoolwork. And that he kept practicing, even though he was short and not the most talented player when he first started out.

This book is perfect for my 'future goal' of connecting young people and seniors - many of the 'senior' generation saw Michael Jordan play in his prime and pointing to a success story and then talking about how he got there is a good point of connection. The target audience is 3rd grade and up, and is really a good grab for children who are just exploring what they want to be when they grow up. Nothing is impossible, is it?

Jordan, D., & Root, B. (2012). Dream big: Michael Jordan and the pursuit of Olympic gold. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

[Laura Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Michael Jordan through his journey to becoming an Olympic basketball player. It starts off with Jordan’s grade school days. School was always very important to him, but basketball was always on his mind. He took his basketball with him everywhere, and he played every day after school with his friends. When he thought about what he wanted to be when he grew up, he knew he wanted to be a basketball player. Michael was pushed by his mother to do well in school. She also told Michael he had to work hard if he wanted to reach his goals. Michael worked very hard and it all paid off. Michael’s dream of playing in the Olympics came true.
I would use this book for upper elementary students because there are a lot of words on the pages and the book is very informational. I think boys especially would enjoy this book. I would use this book to teach the students that dreams really do come true. It would also teach them that you have to work hard for what you want in life. It does not come easy.
Jordan, D. (2012). Dream big: Michael Jordan and the pursuit of Olympic gold. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

[Nicole Hibbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: In this story we learn about Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Jordan’s dream of playing basketball. We learn when his dream started and how very hard he worked to make his dream true! Even when Michael was cut from his high school team he pressed on to be even bigger and better and earn that gold medal.

Audience: This book is for students with a dream.

Appeal: This book was meant for children who have a dream in mind. In this book we learn how to make those dreams come true.

Implementation: I would use this book when talking about working hard to get what you want. We would talk about how we all have dreams and like Michael’s mother mentions there is a difference between a dreamer and a doer. I think this book would connect with a lot of students because we all have big dreams when we are younger and often end up just being dreamers.

Bibliography: Jordan, D., & Root, B. (2012). Dream big: Michael Jordan and the pursuit of Olympic gold. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

[Alex Beteta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes through the story of Michael Jordan as a child. It starts with Michael just playing basketball all day everyday. Eventaully he decides to join an actual basketball team. Then proceeds to tell his mother that he will play on the olympic team when he gets older. Michael also gets the opportunity to play on his older brothers basketball team. The book ends with telling about how Michael Jordan did make the olympic team and becomes one of the best basketball players to ever live. The major theme of this book is that no dream is to big to achieve it just takes a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve dreams. I grew up loving sports along with playing them so it is really neat to see that Michael Jordan all started just playing basketball in his own backyard, which is where everyone starts. I recommend this book because it can inspire younger children. Everyone knows who Michael Jordan is but its really important to show where Michael Jordan first started and how worked his way up. It gives young children hope and to never give up on their dreams.

[Hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the message behind this book was nothing short of amazing. This book is about Michael Jordan's road towards making the Olympics team. He knew it was a dream and he worked towards it, good or bad. This shows that no matter what, you should always dream big and strive for the highest goal. I think this is a good story for anyone to read, especially 2nd through 4th grade where kids tend to have huge dreams and goals for their life, whether they're realistic or not. I think it's perfect for that age group because maybe it will make them work harder for their goals if they see that anything can happen you just have to be dedicated and work towards it. I would use this book any time of the year, just as a fun book to read to the class and then afterward have them fill out a worksheet that explains what their goals are for themselves and how they plan on making those dreams a reality!

[Emily Hilkemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Michael Jordan loved basketball, but most of all he dreamed of playing basketball in the Olympics. His mom told him that he could not just dream about playing in the Olympics, he also had to work hard and do something about his dream. And he did. He ended up playing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. I would recommend this book for kids in second or third grade. It tells the kids that they can dream big, but they also have to take some action and do something about those dreams. This book would be good to help introduce Michael Jordan and his story, but it would also be good during an Olympic year to get the kids started on learning about that.

Jordan, D., & Root, B. (2012). Dream big: Michael Jordan and the pursuit of Olympic gold. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Big is the story of Michael Jordan's childhood. Michael Jordan's love for basketball is expressed throughout the book along with every day life scenarios that children face including his friends, siblings, and family. Some of Michael's struggles are brought to light and the compassion and determination prove to be much stronger than the let downs he faced along the way to success.

Dream Big is a great book to read to students about Michael Jordan. He is seen as an idol because he was famous; children don't always understand that people who are famous had to work hard and dedicate a lot of their time to their passion. This book shows students that they can accomplish anything they want if they try hard enough, and to never give up.

Connections to this book: Family Huddle by Peyton, Eli, and Archie Manning and The Babe & I by David Adler

"Michael go do your homework"

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet book based on a well-known icon. Sometimes the writing was a little slow or blah, but the message if dreaming and working toward your dream was ever present. It wasn't until I finished the book that I looked at who the author was. Michael's mother. Who better to know how he worked on that dream as a child? I thought that pretty neat. I liked the illustrations. They gave me a sense of warmth and encouragement--exactly what one needs when being prodded to fulfill your dreams.

This is a great book to come out right now, with the Summer Olympics in August and our Summer Reading theme being "Dream Big!" Pretty sweet!

[Maddypictures · Rating 2 out of 5]

Michael Jordan's mother offers her perspective on Michael Jordan's athletic success in this lengthy picture book. Her emphasis on "homework first!" felt a bit didactic, and seeing his Olympic dream far outweigh thoughts of a pro-basketball career seemed a little artificial, but no matter. Michael Jordan fans, kids looking for sports books will gobble this one up. With the Olympics around the corner, and this summer's library reading theme of "Dream Big" this is sure to garner plenty of attention. Full-color watercolor and gouache illustrations by Barry Root (known for his work on sports chapter books by Tiki Barber) elevate would could have been an otherwise dull read.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Describing how nine-year-old Michael Jordan put work behind his dreams of playing basketball in the Olympics, this picture book reminds readers that dreaming alone is not enough to accomplish those dreams. The great basketball player's mother captures her son's personality and determination perfectly here as well as making sure that he prioritizes, putting school and homework first. The watercolor and gouache illustrations feature lots of movement and action while also showing the expressive faces of Michael and his family and friends. This title is certain to inspire young readers to dream, yes, and then work toward that dream.