You've heard it a thousand times: never judge a book by its cover. Hoopster Chris Paul knows this all too well. The star of the New Orleans Hornets may not be as tall as his colleagues—at barely 6-feet-tall, he sees some players tower over him—but don't let the slight height fool you. Dude's got skills.

Growing up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Paul was always told he was too small to play basketball. But CP3 (as he's called by friends, family and fans) wouldn't listen. Instead, with his family's support, he used the naysayers' doubts as motivation and worked twice as hard to be the best. As one of the most successful young players in the league, the 24-year-old two-time NBA All-Star is having the last laugh. And he's sharing his story of making his very first basketball team with kids via a new children's book, "Long Shot: Never Too Small To Dream Big," in stores today.

"I think what inspired the book is my passion for kids," Paul told ESSENCE.com before a book signing at the NBA Store in New York. "I want kids to know my story and to also understand that it's not just about basketball—it's about life."

The new father says although he's head over heels about his 4-month-old son, Chris Paul II, with girlfriend Jada Crawley, the little one wasn't the inspiration for the book. "It's funny because the book was two years in the making, so it wasn't fatherhood [that inspired me], but now, to be a father, it makes the book even more special."

Paul, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006, says he's determined to be as good a father as his dad was to him. "Fatherhood has changed me for the best. It's the best thing ever. I've been fortunate enough to have a dad who's always been there for me and at every game, and I'm so excited to do that for my son."

Chris Paul's "Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big" is online and in stores now.