Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game

Gr 4-7–Nelson, esteemed Caldecott Medal-winning artist, delivers this compelling companion to the multi-award winner, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, chronicling the history of basketball. Narrated by the sage voice of an elder player, the book traces the sport from its slow beginnings in 1891 to the dazzling, fast-paced game it is today. The book’s strengths lie in its visual impact—featuring an oversized format and nearly sixty showstopping color paintings that bring the heart-pounding history to life. The history addresses the sport’s diversity and segregation, noting that the game was initially confined to white-owned gymnasiums not open to African Americans. It highlights Edwin B. Henderson, the father of Black basketball, who introduced the game in segregated Washington, DC, in 1904. The narrative covers iconic Black teams like the Harlem Globetrotters—who named themselves to signal they were a Black team to avoid trouble in remote towns—and the Harlem Rens, who won the 1939 World’s Championship but were ignored by major papers due to their race. Profiles of revolutionary players such as Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan are featured, along with notable quotes.