Tag Archives: basketball

EL Crossover by Kwame Alexander

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This is the Spanish edition of Kwame Alexander’s award winning novel in verse, Crossover. This is the story of two 12 year old brothers, Josh and Jordan Bell, who live and breathe basketball. They are whizzes at the crossover dribble (a player dribbling the ball switches the ball rapidly from one hand to the other, to make a change in direction in an effort to deceive the defender). Things start to fall apart when Jordan meets the new girl at school.

Crossover won the Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. 

Having a Spanish edition of this popular title will be a real asset to our school libraries, and is relevant to upper elementary, middle school and high school students.

Basketball Records

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Young basketball enthusiasts will devour this slim volume of records detailed in glossy photos and succinct prose. Both NBA and WNBA records are included, along with the former record-holders. While there are no long lists of the sport’s record-holders, readers will appreciate the information about the current top placer. Those that want more will use this book as a jumping off point for further research.

Typical nonfiction features, such as captions, table of contents, glossary, bold words and index are included. Fans wanting more information are advised to go to the publisher’s ‘Factsurfer’ website.

NBA Finals

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Current and past NBA Finals are described in spare text within full-color pictures of this 24 page high interest-lower reading level nonfiction book. The history of the NBA is briefly described along with exciting photos of some of its starts will engage even those reluctant readers.

Typical nonfiction features are included: table of contents, index, glossary and further exploration. Unfamiliar words are bolded and a two page spread of the bracket used will entice young readers to keep this book in hand. Additional purchase

On Guard

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On Guard, part of the Bounce (basketball) series, tells the story of a star point guard on her high school basketball team who is set to break the state record for shooting three-pointers. She’s being recruited by a prominent college basketball program, and is looking forward to a college scholarship. Her bright future is threatened when her sister is shot in a gang related drive by shooting, and her little brother appears headed in the same destructive direction as her sister.

How can Mercedes help her brother escape the crime of their old neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama? How will she and her family recover and move on after the death of her sister? Will she be able to salvage her ability to play basketball, break the state record, and sign her letter of intent to play college ball?

This novel will appeal to both girls and boys who are interested in basketball, social and family issues, and overcoming adversity.