Book Review: Tacko Fall: To New Heights by Tacko Fall & Justin Haynes (illustrated by Reggie Brown)
Tacko Fall is an easy person to root for. Whether it is from dunking or blocking shots on the basketball court or doing charitable work and singing karaoke he quickly becomes a fan favorite wherever he plays. I was lucky enough to experience this first hand when he was on The Boston Celtics.
The new picture book Tacko Fall: To New Heights by Tacko Fall by Tacko Fall with Justin Haynes and illustrated by Reggie Brown demonstrates that Tacko is more than just his height all while giving young readers an inspirational and informative biography. One issue with some biographical picture books is that they are clunky to read as the authors try to cram too much information into the text. Tacko Fall: To New Heights does not have this issue at all. Fall and Haynes tell Fall’s story in clear, concise, and developmentally appropriate language that is easy to understand for young children. The illustrations by Brown showing Fall’s life growing up in Senegal are vibrant and beautiful. Moreover, the depictions of Fall interacting with his family are emotionally poignant, especially the page when Fall has to say goodbye to his mother and little brother when he leaves Senegal for the United States to pursue basketball. After Fall arrives in the states, the book focuses on Fall’s journey as he learned English, adjusted to high school, went to college, and eventually getting his big break playing for the Celtics. This is a story that relatable to immigrants or anyone who has felt like an outsider and of course will be interesting for young basketball fans. I highly recommend Tacko Fall: To New Heights for any children’s library or classroom bookshelf.
There is also a helpful teacher guide online: https://www.candlewick.com/book_files/1536219584.btg.1.pdf and a fun activity kit: https://www.candlewick.com/book_files/1536219584.kit.1.pdf
Ps good luck to Tacko Fall this year on the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. I hope to see him on The Celtics again one day.
