John Coy (the 4 for 4 series) here blends his demonstrated knowledge of sports with a fascinating picture-book history of basketball.
Following in the footsteps of two failed teachers, James Naismith hopes that three's the charm when, in December 1891, he takes on a "rowdy" gym class in Springfield, Mass. The first day, Naismith tries indoor football, the next day, indoor soccer, and, on the third day, he tries his favorite, lacrosse. Every one of these activities is too rough. Naismith will not give up. He sees himself in these boys who are "energetic, impatient, and eager for something exciting." But how can Naismith avoid serious physical contact (judging by the bandages in the illustrations)? He'd come up with a whole new game.
Coy shows how, for Naismith, necessity is the mother of invention. The teacher thought of a game from his childhood in Canada, "Duck on a Rock," for which "accuracy was more valuable than force." Then Naismith got the idea of a goal that required "an arcing throw." On December 21, 1891, he used a soccer ball and two peach baskets provided by the building's superintendent, posted the rules, and promised the class that if it didn't work, he wouldn't try further experiments. Joe Morse's (Casey at the Bat) illustrations in a limited palette of burgundy, cornflower blue and sepia tones stay true to the era in style and detail, yet also convey the unbridled enthusiasm and kinetic energy of the players. Readers will quickly see why the young men couldn't wait to teach their friends and neighbors the new game of basketball during their Christmas vacation, and why the game caught on. Naismith was also ahead of his time in permitting women to play the game (and it paid off--one of them later became his wife).
The copious author notes and bibliography attest to Coy's thorough research, and a reproduction of Naismith's original rules of the game on the endpapers make this a terrific story to share with basketball fans of all ages. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness
Shelf Talker: This handsomely designed picture-book history of the game of basketball, invented by a desperate gym teacher for his "rowdy" students, will appeal to fans of all ages.