Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success

by John Wooden, Steve Jamison, Susan F. Cornelison (Illustrator)

Inch and Miles toot a magic silver whistle to help them find clues to the pyramid of success.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, School

39 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

John Robert Wooden is a retired American basketball coach. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (class of 1961) and as a coach (class of 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories; only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. His 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12 year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.

Reviews

[Nielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inch and Miles learn from their coach, Mr. Wooden what it really means to be successful. As they blow the silver whistle throughout the story, they learn about the pyramid of success from different animals. Hard work (ant), Enthusiasm (a robin), Friendship (monkey), Loyalty (sheepdog), Cooperations (bees), Self-Control (trout), Alertness (rabbit), Action (squirrel), Determination (frog), Fitness (horse), Skill (spider), Team Spirit (lion), Poise (eagle), and Confidence (alligator).

The poems the animals use to teach Inch and Miles about success are adorable. This would be a wonderful book to use in the library when teaching about personal skills, habits etc. You could build the pyramid of success with them. Each week focus on a different characteristic.

Minuses: The text is long. It is catalogued as a fiction book although it is a picture book format. It would be best read not at the same time but in chunks.

[Jaime Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second year reading this to third graders & once again, it's a sure-fire hit. I find my students eager to know *how* they can be successful (rather than us just screeching at them that they need to do better...) and they eat up the various blocks of the pyramid of success as we go through them. We read one block a week, and discuss the hows and whys of that trait. We then post on the wall the laminated picture for that trait, so that after several weeks, we have built our own pyramid of success on our classroom wall. Between readings, it never fails that at least one student will ask me, "When are we reading Inch & Miles again??" Friends of mine have had the same experience - get this book if you have kids in your life; you won't regret it!

[Schuerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches great lessons on what courage,hardwork, and other words that children are learning mean. The author also finds animals that match the word.

[Cyndi Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book gave a great perspective of John Wooden's pyramid of success, but was easy to understand.

[Brandon Redfern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read with my 7 year old boys. The story was fine considering the audience but where I found the most utility was in reading about each trait and helping them understand how they can obtain them. I read this a month ago and I try and take every opportunity I can to point out when I see these traits in them or others as I try and get them to understand how to discover and develop them. Great teaching tool for younger kids.

[Villain E]

Wow. DNF'd a picture book. But this is so wordy it failed to hold my attention for one page, let alone my kids. There might be some good stuff in here but I didn't have the patience to parse it. If you care to try, I'd recommend reading it on your own first and then paraphrasing it to your child.

The art isn't bad.

[Scott Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love THE coach, but this is not a children's book. The principles taught are wonderful, but the cartoon animation does not match the text.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I thought at the beginning but was in live by the end.

[Keith Kernes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have a bit more detail on each section, but overall a very positive message about the building blocks of success.

[Aleethia]

It was...something. Hootie toot toot.

[Ben Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

focus and be a good person

[Stephanie Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I am going to give this as gifts for every kid or family I know!

[Jeff Botch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach John Wooden’s book, “INCH and MILES: The Journey to Success,” is an incredibly valuable story that provides children and adults with the attributes necessary to succeed in life.

The book begins with their teacher, Mr. Wooden, giving them one final assignment before summer vacation begins. Mr. Wooden has written on the blackboard, “WHAT IS SUCCESS?” and it’s Inch and Miles’ job to go out and find the answer?

Coach Wooden writes, “Success isn't having trophies or toys. It isn’t a medal or friends of your choice. What is Success? That’s easy to see. It’s trying to be the best you can be!”

Having this information, the boys now go on a journey with only a special silver whistle and instructions that they will find special friends along the way that are good teachers. It’s their job to ask these special friends to give them clues that will help them build Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success.”

The authors “Pyramid of Success” is made up of fifteen attributes that all children should be familiar with and try to practice on a daily basis.

The obvious lesson for children are the attributes but another valuable lesson is the importance of understanding that others are here to help us. The children meet fourteen special friends/teachers that all give them valuable information - once they ask for it. With this information, the kids are able to build the Pyramid.

Ultimately, the story concludes with the children going on their summer vacation with the knowledge to succeed in life.

“INCH and MILES: The Journey to Success” is a gem and a must for your children’s bookshelf!

[Kachina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My eight year old son absolutely loves this book. A teacher read it to his class back in first grade and since then he has checked it out from the library on a regular basis and we read it together at bedtime. It's long for a picture book so we usually break it into bits and read it over several nights, but it keeps him and his little sister enthralled and really seems to inspire them to "be successful." I'll admit, I don't quite understand what makes the book so appearling to kids... maybe the step-by-step, instructional way it is laid out is easy to understand? It isn't really much of a story, more of a self-help book, but the pictures are fun and like I said, my kids are positively drawn to it. Someone hit the nail on the head with this one.

[Jennifer Hackett]

Tag: Picture Book (3) Class 2

Wooden, John. Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success (2004). Mr. Wooden, teacher, asks the class “what is success?” Although Inch and Miles try to answer his question, Mr. Wooden replies they need to learn the answer before summer vacation. Mr. Wooden gives them a magic whistle and, thus, begins their quest for the right answer. They met 15 unusual creatures on their journey. Each creature gives Inch and Miles a block forming the Pyramid of Success and learn how they can be the best they can be. John Wooden inspires his reader to find the greatest in each of us. The imaginative illustrations keep the readers interest and the theme of the book is appropriate for all ages. Ages 3-5

[Courtenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has A LOT of words for a picture book (too many, in my opinion, for today's young readers, but this book came out in 2004 when more words were allowed). However, I liked the way sophisticated information on achieving success was presented, from a very successful sports coach and teacher who walks the walk. The animals who represent the pillars of success were wisely chosen, and an inchworm (Inch) and mouse (Miles) are partners looking for clues to success (in rhyme as each is presented). Coach Wooden's own clues for his athletes. I also highly recommend watching John Wooden's Ted Talks for the same message for adults. Good guy, great coach and teacher. I copied his pyramid as a personal message for success to remind me to never give up (I write MG novels).

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this! It's got a great rhythm and look that my third graders really dig, but more importantly it actually gets into some depth in regards to specific attributes of successful folks. I'm a big fan of Coach Wooden's pyramid of success, but I'm finding my students are very attracted to this concept - it gives them situations and words they can wrestle with and understand, as opposed to the abstract ideas.

[Jonathan Stefanopoulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach young kids what it takes to be successful by using Coach Wooden's Pyramid to Success. The kids really enjoy the characters and animals used in the book. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to teach kids important steps to success such as loyalty, cooperation, enthusiasm, hardwork, poise, determination, etc.

[Jaylin Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Somewhat lengthy. Discovering the true meaning of success. Topics covered: success, hard work, enthusiasm, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, self-control, alterness, determination, fitness, team spirit, poise, and confidence.

[Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it because one of my friend's names is Miles and it was a nice book

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome book for any age, Pyramid of Success teaches us values for life.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach Wooden's pyramid of success

[Griselda]

Very cute story. Had fun with the poems and the characters.

[Shauntel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't love the story, but the main idea is great. And it allowed for a lot of discussion.