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The Stars of the WNBA
by Michelle SmithThe WNBA is filled with heroes and role models: Strong, confident women who have achieved their goals. This book features eight of the most popular of these young women -- the true role-models for thousands of young girls. This exciting reader will step behind the scenes into the lives of these women and tell their tales -- from their childhood to today's successes. This is one of the debut books in the new line of NBA and WNBA Readers. Get set to read with Scholastic and the WNBA!
The Holy Grail of Hoops
by Josh SwadeWhen Josh Swade found out that the original 13 rules of basketball, penned by Dr. James Naismith--the father of modern basketball--were up for auction, he knew that it was his duty as a lifelong Jayhawks fan to make sure that they ended up where they belonged.Penned in 1891, Naismith's original rules were auctioned off by Sotheby's in New York City on December 10, 2010. Upon hearing the news that Naismith's grandson, Ian Naismith, had offered the rules for auction, Swade could not accept the notion that this sacred document could reside with just some stranger or in a random home or hall. He resolved to ensure that Naismith's rules be returned to his spiritual home of forty years, The University of Kansas. Swade had his raison d'etre. He had all the determination one could need. There was only one issue.He did not have 4.3 million dollars.Spanning the course of thirty-nine frantic days, Josh Swade embarked on a fanatical journey that would take him across the country. His nearly religious obsession brought him face-to-face with NBA players Paul Peirce and Steve Nash, NBA greats Jerry West and Larry Brown, and many others who knew the importance of this relic. With multiple hurdles ahead of him, will Josh be able to find the money and support to purchase the rules before it's too late?
Doug's Hoop Nightmare
by Jim JihkinsDoug desperately wants to impress Patti Mayonnaise, his secret love. But at basketball camp, where Patti is an assistant coach, he can't seem to do anything right. All Doug wants to do is sink a shot without looking stupid.
Hoop Queen
by Marci PeschkeKylie Jean is usually good at everything she tries. So how come learning to play basketball is so hard?
Elle of the Ball
by Elena Delle DonneFrom 2015 WNBA MVP, 2016 Olympic gold medalist, and global ambassador to the Special Olympics Elena Delle Donne comes the first novel in a brand-new middle grade series with as much heart as there is game.Elle Deluca is a seventh grader who is tall—not just sort of tall. She’s six feet tall. And for a twelve-year-old girl, this means that her basketball team has high hopes for her changing positions and becoming their starting center. But a new position is not the only footwork she has to learn. Her class’s dance unit in gym is coming up, and that means she has to learn ballroom dance steps with a boy much shorter than her—and perform publically for a grade. In the first book in WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist Elena Delle Donne’s Hoops series, Elle must figure out a way to remain herself when others want her to be someone else.
The Hoopster
by Alan Lawrence SitomerA hard beat pumped from a radio by the fence. Ten players, twenty sneakers, two rims, one basketball: that's all there was. That's all they needed. A ball sailed through the air. Swish! Across the court, a player tried to dribble past a defender and take him to the hole, but the pick was weak and the defense clogged the middle. A shot was forced up off balance. Two players battled for position under the boards. Shawn, a white player for the Skins, got the tip, dribbled back up-court away from the basket, then stopped, popped, and nailed a three- point basket.
Shooting Hoops
by Micahel RaffertyCarlos and Sam want to play a game in the city so they have to get creative.
Hoops
by Major JacksonMajor Jackson continues to mine the solemn marvels of ordinary lives. The substance of Jackson's art is the representation of American citizens whose heroic endurance makes them remarkable and transcendent.
Night Hoops
by Carl DeukerNick Abbott and Trent Dawson have nothing in common but basketball. It's sophomore year and Nick is trying to deal with his parents' divorce. He also really wants to be a star on the basketball team. Trent, his neighbor, is angry, and aggressive. The two form an uneasy bond as they quietly practice each night on Nick's backyard basketball court. But as the basketball season progresses, their lives become unexpectedly intertwined. In this story of an unlikely bond, Carl Deuker explores the confusing place between loneliness and friendship, between faithfulness and betrayal. Filled with gripping game play, this is a story about choices.
Dribble, Dribble, Drool! #18
by Nancy Krulik and Aaron BlechaThere are no time-outs when the super burp takes control!George knows that his basketball team, the Fighting Ferrets, is really good. So when Louie proposes a bet for their upcoming game, George accepts the challenge: the person on the losing team has to be the winner's butler for a week! George is confident he'll lead his team to victory. But then his best friend Alex, a school safety monitor who's been on a rule-enforcing frenzy, reports George after the super burp makes him misbehave. That means George can't play in the big game! After he's lost the chance to play, will he also lose the bet?
The Everything Kids' Basketball Book
by Bob Schaller and Dave HarnishKids can dribble, shoot, and swish with hours of gaming fun in this new guide! Featuring thirty puzzles, this fun and educational book is a must-have for basketball players and fans. Children will learn the rules of basketball, the history of this popular sport, and tips for enhancing their game, as well as:The inspirational stories of basketball stars of yesterday and todayVarious offensive and defensive playsUp-to-date statistics and records of NBA teamsThe scoop on the NCAA, WNBA, and Olympic basketballFun basketball alternatives like "Around the World," "Street Ball," and "H-O-R-S-E" Most importantly, this guide shows kids the importance of teamwork and motivates them to stay active and healthy. This book will score points with kids and parents alike!
Bad-luck Basketball
by Thomas Troupe and Mike Ray and Jake MaddoxThe Clovers have never been the best basketball team in the district, but lately their luck has been worse than ever. And it seems like everyone wants to blame Brandon for the team's losing streak. Can Brandon convince his teammates he's not bringing the bad luck before it's too late?
Great Moments in Basketball History
by Matt ChristopherThe history of basketball is chock-full of famous buzzer-beating shots, amazing game-saving plays, and thrilling maneuvers that defy gravity. All fans have their favorite memory, just as they have their favorite team and their favorite player. Now here's a book that offers a look back at more than fifteen of the sport's best moments. The Block, The Steal, The Shot. Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird , Jordan , and James. Each entry captures the nail-biting tension of the minutes leading up to the play, as well as information about the superstar players that made them and the teams that they played for. Packed with facts and action, this is a book young basketball fans will reach for again and again -- and because it comes from Matt Christopher, young readers know they're getting the best sports writing on the shelf.
MVP #4
by David A. Kelly and Scott BrundageFrom the author of the Ballpark Mysteries comes the coolest sports club around—the Most Valuable Players! The MVP club needs to raise money for their basketball tournament. At first, they think selling popcorn will be easy . . . but then Luke eats more popcorn than he sells! Plus there’s a new kid at school who might need the money even more than the team does. Can the MVP kids raise enough money, win the tournament, and help their friend? Perfect for kids who love to compete in all kinds of contests and have fun with great friends, David A. Kelly’s series teaches readers that when you’re a most valuable player, you love sports, always show spirit, and never give up! Don’t miss bonus sports facts in every MVP book.
Basketball (or Something Like It)
by Nora Raleigh BaskinBasketball clinics, a revolving door of coaches, incensed parents, and the importance of the right sneakers-is that what the game is about? Told from the perspective of four unlikely friends, Nora Raleigh Baskin's poignant novel focuses on the action, drama, and fun of playing ball and explores what it takes to be a winner of the game-both on the court and off.
Gus and Grandpa at Basketball
by Claudia Mills and Catherine Stock"A great intergenerational team." --Kirkus Reviews Gus loves basketball -- that is, basketball practice with Pete, the coach, and shooting baskets at Grandpa's house with only Grandpa's dog, Skipper, in attendance. Basketball games are another story. What if Gus misses every basket, and everybody laughs? If only his parents wouldn't come. Gus is especially unnerved by his father's shouting. Then Grandpa comes to Gus's last game and teaches him the secret of success -- to tune out the other voices and listen to his own.
Trouthe, Lies, and Basketball
by Charley RosenElliot Hersch is given a basketball on his tenth birthday and cuts a deal with his disapproving father: if he makes straight As, he is allowed to play. Modeling his game on the basketball heroes of his time--Clyde Frazier, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and especially Larry Bird--Elliot becomes one of the finest high school basketball players in New York. Trying to steer clear of the corruption and sleaze in the big college programs, Elliott signs with the seemingly clean-cut University of Southern Arizona (USA), partly to fulfill his promise to his father, whose one piece of advice about life is: Tell the truth, always. A quote from Chaucer, his father's favorite writer, guides both father and son "Trouthe is the hyest thing that man may kepe." What he finds at the USA and then the NBA is a far cry from untarnished "trouthe." Elliott is challenged at every turn, tangling at the end of the day with what is most true: the game. Can Elliott truly play basketball? And if not, what is left of his life? Trouthe, Lies, and Basketball is an epic comic tale--structured somewhat like a gripping basketball game, completely with literary "time-outs"--of a basketball player coming to terms with the world as it is, his talents as they are. Rosen's characters, even the mostly unseemly, are all heart, and by the end they leave those hearts on the hardwood.
Mason Dixon
by Claudia Mills and Guy FrancisHere's the third entry in Claudia Mills' charming middle-grade series. Mason Dixon survived the school choir. He survived adopting his now-beloved dog named, uh, Dog. But now he faces his biggest challenge yet: joining the local basketball team. Not by choice, of course. Not only do his parents encourage it, but his dad even volunteers to be his coach. Now, with his best pal Brody and a team of misfits even worse at basketball than him (if that's possible), Mason must try to rally to beat his arch-rival, the school bully Dunk. Just another day-in-the-life of a disaster-prone fourth grader.From the Hardcover edition.
My Basketball Book
by Gail GibbonsThe markings on a basketball court, What basketball players wear, The three team positions, The excitement of passing the ball, The thrill of making a basket.
Sacred Hoops
by Phil JacksonWith a new introduction, Phil Jackson's modern classic of motivation, teamwork, and Zen insight is updated for a whole new readership"Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball." --Phil JacksonEleven years ago, when Phil Jackson first wrote these words in Sacred Hoops, he was the triumphant head coach of the Chicago Bulls, known for his Zen approach to the game. He hadnt yet moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he would bring his total to an astounding nine NBA titles. In his thought-provoking memoir, he revealed how he directs his players to act with a clear mind--not thinking, just doing; to respect the enemy and be aggressive without anger or violence; to live in the moment and stay calmly focused in the midst of chaos; to put the "me" in service of the "we"--all lessons applicable to any person's life, not just a professional basketball player's. This inspiring book went on to sell more than 400,000 copies.In his new introduction, Jackson explains how the concepts in Sacred Hoops are relevant to the issues facing his current team--and today's reader.
The Mamba Mentality
by Phil Jackson and Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant and Andrew D. BernsteinThe first book from the basketball superstar Kobe Bryant—a lavish, deep dive inside the mind of one of the most revered athletes of all time
In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant has decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take readers on an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary “Mamba mentality.” Citing an obligation and an opportunity to teach young players, hardcore fans, and devoted students of the game how to play it “the right way,” The Mamba Mentality takes us inside the mind of one of the most intelligent, analytical, and creative basketball players ever.
For the first time, and in his own words, Bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. Readers will learn how Bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. They’ll also get fascinating granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career.
Bryant’s detailed accounts are paired with stunning photographs by the Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein. Bernstein, long the Lakers and NBA official photographer, captured Bryant’s very first NBA photo in 1996 and his last in 2016—and hundreds of thousands in between, the record of a unique, twenty-year relationship between one athlete and one photographer.
The combination of Bryant’s narrative and Bernstein’s photos make The Mamba Mentality an unprecedented look behind the curtain at the career of one of the world’s most celebrated and fascinating athletes.
A New York Times Bestseller
Mindful Athlete, The
by George Mumford and Foreword by Phil JacksonMichael Jordan credits George Mumford with transforming his on-court leadership of the Bulls, helping Jordan lead the team to six NBA championships. Mumford also helped Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom and countless other NBA players turn around their games. A widely respected public speaker and coach, Mumford is sharing his own story and the strategies that have made these athletes into stars in The Mindful Athlete: The Secret to Pure Performance. His proven, gentle but groundbreaking mindfulness techniques can transform the performance of anyone with a goal, be they an Olympian, weekend warrior, executive, hacker, or artist. Mumford's deeply moving personal story is unforgettable. A basketball player at the University of Massachusetts (where he roomed with Dr. J, Julius Erving), injuries forced Mumford out of the game he loved. The meds that relieved the pain of his injuries also numbed him to the emptiness he felt without the game and eventually led him to heroin. After years as a functioning addict, Mumford enrolled in Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, and made meditation, on and off the cushion, the center of his life. He kicked drugs, earned a master's degree in counseling psychology and began teaching meditation to inmates and others. When Michael Jordan left the Chicago Bulls to play baseball in 1993, the team was in crisis. Coach Phil Jackson, a long-time mindfulness practitioner, contacted Dr. Kabat-Zinn to find someone who could teach mindfulness techniques to the struggling team--someone who would have credibility and could speak the language of his players. Kabat-Zinn led Jackson to Mumford and their partnership began. Mumford has worked with Jackson and each of the eleven teams he coached to become NBA champions. His roster of champion clients has since blossomed way beyond basketball to include corporate executives, Olympians, and athletes in many different sports. With a charismatic teaching style that combines techniques of engaged mindfulness with lessons from popular culture icons such as Yoda, Indiana Jones, and Bruce Lee, Mumford tells illuminating stories about his larger than life clients. His writing is down-to-earth and easy to understand and apply. The Mindful Athlete is an engrossing story and an invaluable resource for anyone looking to elevate their game, no matter what the pursuit, and includes a foreword by Phil Jackson."Self-consciousness is when you're focused on how you're doing instead of what you're doing. We have to learn how to push and challenge ourselves, but not in an insensitive way. Honing your performance really comes down to being comfortable with being uncomfortable."--George Mumford
Ball Don't Lie
by Matt de la PeñaNewbery Award-winning author Matt de la Pena's Ball Don't Lie about basketball "is a must-read." [The Bulletin]
Sticky is a beat-around-the-head foster kid with nowhere to call home but the street, and an outer shell so tough that no one will take him in. He started out life so far behind the pack that the finish line seems nearly unreachable. He's a white boy living and playing in a world where he doesn't seem to belong. But Sticky can ball. And basketball might just be his ticket out . . . if he can only realize that he doesn't have to be the person everyone else expects him to be. Matt de la Peña's breakout urban masterpiece, Ball Don't Lie takes place where the street and the court meet and where a boy can be anything if he puts his mind to it.
Here to Stay
by Sara FarizanBijan Majidi is:
Shy around girls
Really into comics
Decent at basketball
Bijan Majidi is not:
A terrorist
What happens when a kid who’s flown under the radar for most of high school gets pulled off the bench to make the winning basket in a varsity playoff game? If his name is Bijan Majidi, life is suddenly high fives in the hallways and invitations to exclusive parties—along with an anonymous photo sent by a school cyberbully that makes Bijan look like a terrorist.
The administration says they’ll find and punish the culprit. Bijan wants to pretend it never happened. He’s not ashamed of his Middle Eastern heritage; he just doesn’t want to be a poster child for Islamophobia. Lots of classmates rally around Bijan. Others make it clear they don’t want him or anybody who looks like him at their school. But it’s not always easy to tell your enemies from your friends.
Here to Stay is a painfully honest, funny, authentic story about growing up, speaking out, and fighting prejudice.