“Peyton Manning” by Jim Gigliotto.
Child’s World Press, Chanhassen, Minn., 2007, 32 pages, Grades 3-5.
Sports heroes often give needed inspiration to young fans. If children feel down or need inspirational role figures, athletes can provide this needed boost. Sometimes the personal life of sports figures does not meet their public images. So when the public encounters someone with a remarkable public and private life, a faithful following will result.
Occasionally, an entire family will be public heroes. This is particularly true with the famous Manning family. The father, Archie, was an outstanding quarterback in the National Football League. Two of his sons, Peyton and Eli, will follow his example. Jim Gigliotti has written a fine biography of the current quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning. On February 2, 2014, Peyton Manning will attempt to lead Denver to a Super Bowl victory. This book is his story.
Growing up, Peyton is not particularly attracted to football. He sits in on team meetings with his father and learns many basic ideas about football and life. But he is more interested in baseball and doesn’t play football until junior high school. It quickly becomes obvious that this boy is talented. He is also tall and very athletic. Peyton leads his New Orleans high school to many triumphs and by his senior year in 1993 is one of the most recruited players in the United States. His dad, Archie, is so famous at his Alma Mater, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), that the speed limit on campus is the number on his football jersey. Everyone expects Peyton to quickly sign at Ole Miss and continue the Manning legacy. Much to their displeasure, Peyton signs with the University of Tennessee. Immediately cries of treason to the University of Mississippi are hurled at Peyton and the Manning family. This anger doesn’t really die out until a few years later when Peyton’s younger brother, Eli, does sign at Ole Miss and leads the school back into football fame.
At the University of Tennessee, Peyton becomes a star quarterback and leads his team into national championship contention. He is as successful in the classroom as the football field and graduates with honors in only three years. In the 1998 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Peyton Manning as the first choice off the draft board. It is a choice that paid many dividends to the team in the succeeding years. Peyton’s brilliant passing and play calling will keep the Colts continually in the hunt of league championships. His great play will be rewarded with a triumph in the Super Bowl. In the last two seasons, Peyton has played for the Denver Broncos and has turned the team into one of the most exciting offenses in the history of football.
Do you enjoy watching football? Do you have any heroes in the college or pro games? Besides his great passing, why have people in Nebraska become so pleased to watch Peyton? What does Peyton shout when he audibles and changes a play at the line of scrimmage? If you don’t know, watch the Super Bowl and you will be in for a treat.
To find out more about this remarkable quarterback, go to the library and check out this fine biography, “Peyton Manning,” by Jim Gigliotti.
This is an excellent book for children in the middle grades. The text is very well written and the photographs bring the story of Peyton Manning to life. At the conclusion of the book is a list of his many accomplishments. Encourage your children and young family members to read this well-written book.
