Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big

by Chris Paul, Frank Morrison (Illustrator)

Everybody told Chris that he was too small to play basketball. But he ignored them all...because he had big dreams. And, he loved the game.

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Basketball, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2009

About the author

Chris Paul is a ten-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold medalist. The Winston-Salem native currently plays with the Phoenix Suns and previously played with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Hornets. Off the court, he’s a father, husband, entrepreneur, activist, and philanthropist. He has served as the President of the National Basketball Players Association since 2013. He is the founder of Ohh Dip!!! Productions, part owner of the Winston-Salem Dash, and co-founder of Go Hoop Day. His Chris Paul Family Foundation has given back to local communities since 2005.

Reviews

[Angel Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty great story about hard work.
Goos for all ages but even better for children that are interested in practicing sports.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review taken from Booklist.

Every sports-minded boy imagines himself crossing the goal line with the football, batting a home run, or kicking the soccer ball into the net in the last few seconds of the game, but not Chris Paul. In his mind's eye he was going up against Michael Jordan. He "pulls back for the jumper. He lets it go -- and scores! The crowd goes wild." Well, not exactly because Paul was short and too darn small. His brother C.J. and his friends loved to tease him, but that only seemed to make him more determined than ever to practice really hard for the upcoming basketball tryouts. His brother said the "ball is bigger than you are" so he'd need all the luck he could get. Chris knew all about basketball, including the fact that the "average height of a player in the NBA was 6 Feet 7 inches tall." He also knew that he was barely four feet tall. He couldn't even concentrate in class just thinking about those tryouts. His mom gently put her hand under his chin as he lay in bed and tried to reassure him, telling him that he had to do the best he could do. His grandfather Chilly told him that making himself taller wasn't an option, but he could "get faster and stronger." `Work harder than everyone else on the court and your size won't matter." Chris practiced like crazy for days, but was it enough to make the team? I loved this heartwarming story of the little guy who had big dreams and just wouldn't give up. The artwork was bold, vibrant and daring and meshed very well with the story. There are a lot of children who might not dare to dream big and this book will make them feel like they too can make it…even if they are a little too small or have anything that just might appear to hold them back in life. I read another nonfiction book, "Chris Paul (Amazing Athletes)" that goes into more detail about his career that would be the perfect compliment to this book. I loved this little guy with big dreams and you will too!

I would have this book in my classroom for several reasons. One being for the students who love sports and another reason being for the students who may be struggling to fit in. I think a discussion I would have with my students after reading this book would be that each individual has their own talents and they may not be the same as the person sitting next to them in the class. I would also discuss how each talent is something to be proud of and nobody should make fun of anybody for having a different talent. I would then go around the room and ask the students to say what their individual talent is aloud.

[Elizabeth Bott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long Shot is a story written by and about the NBA basketball star Chris Paul as a child. Chris was very short, much shorter than all of the other boys at school. He had a goal to make the boys basketball team but was very nervous, especially because of his height. After lots of practice and hard work, Chris tried out for the team and made it.

The major themes of the book are perseverance, dedication, and to dream big.

When I read Long Shot I was reminded a lot of my childhood. I really related to Chris Paul’s experience as a kid, being very small, athletic, and having big dreams. I enjoyed that they incorporated his family into the story, because they had a big part in shaping him into the successful player and man he is today.

I would recommend this book to kids, especially kids who play sports and are small. This book does a good job of teaching kids that good things don’t get handed to you, you have to work hard to get what you want. Also, it is important for kids to read this book to see the bullies in the book and how they affect the main character.

[Kayley King]

This book was about how Chris Paul overcame his small height to become one of the greatest players in the NBA. I think that this is a great story about overcoming struggles and fulfilling your dreams because you worked hard and earned your way to the top. The story was well written and the illustrations looked like they were done with oil pastels and they were really well done too. Honestly, this story would be good for all elementary levels and could be presented in a lesson about overcoming struggles and then the students could write about a time they overcame an obstacle.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The draw factor of having an NBA athlete tell their story is big. Take aways: The obvious one is work hard if you want to succeed. Also, your dream is yours, don't let others steal it away. Then, I also thought that this story emphasized the strength of having others support you in achieving your goals. In the story, Chris thinks he is done at the try outs once he hits the floor. But, it is with the cheers of his grandfather, father, and the lessons shared by his older brother that he finds the will to get up and keep going.

Lots here in this book.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read to school children!! I just finished reading it to my Special Ed class today after one of my students chose it from the library (he wasn’t able to read it fluently on his own). So I read it to all the students. Even though I am not a big NBA fan, this book was all about hard work and determination. Lus the illustrations are phenomenal!

[Ryan DeMarois]

This is a great book about NBA point guard Chris Paul. Paul never let his height shut down his dreams. Paul worked and worked to make sure that his height was not a problem for him not making the team. This is a great book about hard work and dedication that kids would love to read.

[Jenese Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book and its message. It's important for kids to know that they can achieve their dreams no matter what people say, as long as they stay determined and never give up.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids who have big dreams and the guts to stick with it, even when everyone is telling you it’ll never happen.

[Camie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary of an NBA player I knew nothing about and his perseverance.

[Noah Saenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone said that Chris Paul would not be able to make it. Everyone said he was too small to play ball, but that did not stop him. The story of Long Shot follows Chris and his dream to make it on his local basketball team. With his height he has to overcome many challenges to even be looked at, but with hard work and determination he is able to make his dream come true.

This book is an amazing children’s book that has a lot of elements that the book “The Crossover” has. Many sounds and noises, a fun and jumpy text making it easy to read, amazing illustrations, as well as a great story about hard work will really leave all children excited to read. You do not have to be a fan of basketball to understand the elements talked about.

[Sam Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly good picture book written by NBA star Chris Paul - with all of the horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE picture books written by famous non-authors lately (I'm looking at you, former Justice O'Connor), I was expecting the worse. Paul stays away from cliche and tells a pretty touching story about how he made the team despite being such a shrimp (maybe I liked it because I can relate). And of course, having Frank Morrison illustrate the book doesn't hurt, either.

[Sarah M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for students who are in kindergarten to students in the upper elementary level grades. This was a great book about Chris Paul, and even though he was short he still was able to play basketball. Instead of giving up when everyone told he couldn't do it because of his height he continued to work even harder and it paid off. The book was colorful and is able to attract many children to read it.

[Nicole Butsch]

I would use this book for my future classroom library. Long Shot is an inspiring story of an eight year old boy who did not let others opinions about him deter him from trying out for basketball. Instead he used what others would tell him as motivation to work harder to get what he wants. I would use this book to inspire the students to take all the negative comments said to them to use as motivation towards reaching all their goals.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author tells his personal story of how he became a basketball player even though people told him he as too short. This book could be used to show students that all that matters is what they think of themselves. After reading a chart of what the author did to help himself could be made so students see that hard work can pay off.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told through an uplifting message and simple words, Chris Paul's biographical tale "Long Shot" is a perfect short story to read to children. Reliving the nerve-wrecking days leading up to his first basketball team tryout, Paul - who was just over 4 foot tall at the time - learns life lessons from his supportive, close-knit family.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

sports read - pictures that would carry to a group - most likely for school-age crowd as an intro for a special sports guest.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about going for your dreams regardless of other people's negativity. This is a good example of the recent trend of pro athlete's picture books- but this one is actually good!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a shame that such a well-thought-out story is wrecked by two glaring typos and the omission of how tall the player is now.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a really good lesson, holding onto your dreams. But it's presented in a new way.

[Garosebud · Rating 5 out of 5]

i havent read it

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Paul demonstrates that being small is not an issue if you have big dreams.

[Kolton Knop]

it was very good

[Jesse Baldwin]

This story is written by Chris Paul and it teaches kids that there is nothing they can't do. I would like to teach all of my students to not give up on their dreams.

[Anna]

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