Tacko Fall: To New Heights

by Tacko Fall, Justin Haynes, Reggie Brown (Illustrator)

The inspiring true story of basketball phenom Tacko Fall—and his journey from West Africa to the NBA—will inspire young people to dream and do.

Tacko Fall was always tall, even as a child, but he wasn’t always a slam-dunk star. On his first official day of training as a boy in Senegal, running up and down the basketball court was exhausting. The first time he tried weight-lifting, he could barely lift the bar, even with no weights on it! The game had many rules that he didn’t understand, but Tacko set aside frustration and found the courage to keep working. The more he practiced, the more his skills grew, and the more reachable his goals became. Touching on immigration, determination, hard work, and the long road to success, this picture-book biography of one rising basketball star will delight his many fans and introduce him to new ones. Coauthored with his sports agent and paired with engaging illustrations, Tacko Fall’s relatable story will motivate readers to overcome obstacles and aim high—and higher still.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

Tacko Fall emigrated from Senegal as a teenager to play basketball and rose to prominence when he was selected by the Boston Celtics and became a seven-foot-six ball-playing sensation. He has played for the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers and lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Reviews

[Dani Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is literally my favorite bball player because of it. It is very inspiring and cool.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the NBA might be familiar with basketball star Tacko Fall who played for the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 7’6″ player was born in Senegal and came to the US to play basketball in high school.

Since Tacko was so tall, you would assume that he was a natural at basketball. But, as a kid, he mostly played soccer. He was often teased at school because of his height, but his mom encouraged him to do his best and ignore the teasing and name-calling. When one of his friends got a basketball, they started going to the court by his school and shooting hoops.

When Tacko was discovered by a coach, he realized he had a long way to go to actually become a basketball player. It wasn’t just about being tall, he had to be in shape and practice his skills. Tacko moved to the US to continue working on his basketball skills and attend school. He quickly learned English and even earned a scholarship to play basketball for the University of Central Florida. The rest is history.

Tacko Fall shares his story to encourage other kids to continue to work hard, practice, and keep overcoming obstacles to reach their dreams. Playing in the NBA was a dream come true for Tacko but it wasn’t without a lot of hard work and dedication. He ends the book with advice for all kids:

“Always dream BIG! Always have courage. If you do, you can rise to new heights!”

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a basketball-obsessed son I already knew who Tacko Fall was. However, I had no idea of all the work and hardships Tacko endured before achieving his dream of playing in the NBA. Growing up in Senegal, Tacko was the tallest kid in his class. Sometimes he couldn't even find shoes to fit his large feet. Tacko's height is a significant advantage in the game of basketball, but he still had to work hard to get in shape to play the game. When Tacko was 16 years old he came to the United States leaving behind his mother and brother. I was struck by how brave Tacko was to come to a new country where he barely spoke any English. It must have been scary and overwhelming, but it was worth it After years of practice, Tacko finally achieved his dream of playing in the NBA.

Tacko's life story is interesting, and I was eager to find out what happened next. Tacko Fall: To New Heights is an inspirational book. It shows readers that they should always chase their dreams.
This book will appeal to basketball fans, but I think anyone can appreciate the message that with hard work you can achieve your dreams.
** This review first appeared on YA Book Central and can be found here :https://www.yabookscentral.com/tacko-...

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boston Celtics basketball player Tacko Fall tells of his life and aspirations in this engaging picture book autobiography. From his early years in Senegal to playing in the NBA, Fall talks about working hard to make something of himself apart from his height. He was teased about his height growing up, but his mother helped him imagine great things for his future that were more important than petty name-calling. It’s inspiring to read of his resolve to persevere in his training, even when there were no shoes to fit his giant feet. I like that he emphasizes that even though he is tall, he still had to work hard to get where he is today – learning English in the USA, understanding the rules of basketball and practicing every day.

Fall’s narration is personal and conversational, so young readers will feel like he is talking to them. Reggie Brown’s digital art portrays Fall as an endearingly tall and gangly guy, but never stoops to caricature. I think that young basketball lovers will love this book.

(Tacko’s name is unusual enough to American ears that I think the title should have added something to clarify that the book is a biography.)

[Richetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Candlewick Press for the gifted copy! This autobiographical book tells the story of one of the tallest people in the world, Tacko Fall, and his journey to the NBA. Born in Senegal, Tacko grew up playing soccer in the sand. He often got bullied because of his extreme height. One day, his grandmother turned on a basketball game on TV and he became hooked on the sport. When he was discovered, he was very happy, but sad to leave his family behind when he received the opportunity to move to the United States.

This is a great story to encourage children to dream about their goals and reach for them. It is also encouraging for kids who might be facing bullying. The illustrations are awesome too! A great post-read activity will be to look up where Tacko is now.

[Darlena Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a colorful book and the simple story of Elhadji Tacko Sewreigne Diop Fall of Dakar, Senegal. His words at the end is a mantra for every young child: "Always dream BIG! Always have courage. If you do, you can rise to new heights!" I'm confused about the timeline in this book, but I am happy to learn about Dwight Howard's superman dunk in 2020.

[Erin Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a biography style book, but written in pictures. The words were pretty advanced and there was paragraphs of text. I liked his story and how he reminds the readers to believe in your self and have courage.

[Tracy Kipfstuhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully inspiring story! So glad I got to see him plan for the Cavs last year.

[Myla Kaleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography was really interesting and had me intrigued the whole time. There was a lot of great illustrations also that made it super fun to look at.

[Sophie Klaveano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a children's friendly biography about Tacko Fall a NBA player. It gives a good background on what he his life was like prior to playing in the NBA. It shows how he came from a different country and had to learn English and go through struggles before he could succeed.