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Click here for a round up of Olympic themed children’s book activities and children’s cooking activities.

Just in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, PBS Home Video is releasing Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami. The movie examines the time Ali spent in Miami after he returned from the 1960 Rome Olympics. It was a crucial time of transformation for him, not only from an amateur boxer to a pro, but his personal journey from being Cassius Clay into the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Though original footage and interviews we see Ali’s life in Overtown, the African-American side of Miami that was considered the “Harlem South” of its day. We learn about his training at the famous Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach from the people he worked with like his trainer, Angelo Dundee. The movie also explores Ali’s relationship to the Nation of Islam, his friendship with Malcolm X, and his refusal to be drafted and fight in the Vietnam War.

It’s amazing in a time where a presidential candidate’s Muslim sounding name stirs up so much prejudice to realize how influential Muhammad Ali was and how loved he still is today. Ali’s story reflects so much going on in the early ’60s - the fight for civil rights, the black separatist movement, and the resistance by so many young people to the Vietnam War.

Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami is an amazing documentary. I just wish it was longer. Also, it is appropriate for older children, but does deal with adult subjects like prejudice, the assassination of Malcolm X, and shows some fairly brutal boxing footage. For more information on the DVD, see Richard Marcus at BlogCritics review.

Speaking of boxing and the Olympics, here’s a round up of Olympic themed children’s book and cooking activities.

• Books, activities, and recipes for Chinese New Year – includes a recipe for Chinese Pork Dumplings
• Kung Fu Panda does dim sum - includes a recipe for Spicy Rice Balls and instructions on how to properly steam the dim sum you get in the frozen section of your local Asian market.
• Steamy Kitchen is doing a series of simple Chinese dishes to celebrate the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her Ground Beef with Beijing Sauce Over Noodles looks very easy to cook, and something that the kids will like to eat while watching the games. Also, it’s very flexible. You can substitute your favorite frozen veggies and rice for the noodles.
• National Geographic covers the 2008 Beijing Olympics – all kinds of family friendly learning and activities including online animal GeoGames featuring Beaver Badminton and Dolphin Diving.

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