Salty Shoes

Salt in his Shoes; Michael Jordan, In Pursuit of a Dream

Published by: Scholastic

Written by: Deloris Jordan with Roslyn M. Jordan

Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

This book might be more historical fiction than non-fiction, but that's not keeping me from blogging about it!  As a lifelong basketball player, I felt inspired just by reading the name "Michael Jordan," but readers with all types of hobbies and interests can relate to this heartfelt story told by a mother about her remarkable child.  That's right, Deloris Jordan is Michael's mom, and she starts this retelling with a heartfelt dedication to "the many children who are inclined to say 'I can't,' or 'I wish I had talent,' or 'I wish I were gifted.'"  Though her son grew up to be one of the most talented athletes of all time, he was not always a star; he was awkward, he was short, and often, he lost.  Michael's mom did not always know that he was going to be a star, but she had a few tricks up her sleeve to help him believe in his limitless potential.

Like all moms, Deloris Jordan had the answer to most of Michael's questions and, when he came home from a basketball game in the park attributing his team's loss to his short stature, his mama knew just what to do.  She put salt in his shoes, like she put salt in the roses in her garden, to help him grow and flourish.  Michael did not physically grow much from his mother's remedy, but he was inspired to practice harder than ever before to make up for his height. 

This book would make for a great read aloud to a group of older elementary students in need of a little inspiration.  While searching the internet, I was able to find a few people who were especially moved by Deloris Jordan's story.  One of these leads led me to a website that I had never heard of before called SchoolTube which seems to be a more secure version of YouTube specifically designed to be used in an academic setting.  Schools can create their own private channels on the sight or utilize resources posted in other channels. The link above takes you to one students commercial for Salt in His Shoes and is a great idea for a technology-integrated lesson.

Another great resource found to accompany this book is a recorded read aloud by Stuart Naismith, the grandson of James Naismith.  James Naismith is credited with inventing the game of basketball as we know it today in 1890 and this book is a great example of how his legacy lives on.  Naismith's read aloud reminds us that Michael Jordan eventually grew to 6 feet 6 inches tall, so maybe we should all start sprinkling a little salt in our shoes.