Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A collection of basketball facts that extend knowledge of the game rather than simply pepper it with curios. Sylvester has gathered here a healthy variety of basketball information that helps set the sport in evolutionary and socio-economic contexts. It starts, of course, with James Naismith, a peach basket, and a bunch of bored boys. And certainly the inclusion of some oddballogy keeps readers entertained: "The backboard appeared in 1895 to stop spectators from reaching for the ball." A two-page spread on hair is also worthy of extended examination, with the likes of Dr. J, James Harden, Metta World Peace, Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins, and, never to be forgotten, Dennis Rodman—all represented only by hair placed over negative space. There are nods to the WNBA and the importance of Title IX, but what gives the book its real oomph is introducing questions of race, sexual orientation, global reach, the wheelchair game, and economic accessibility in the form of street games. A fascinating chronology of African-American involvement in basketball is scattered throughout the pages, and there's a clear sense of the game's salary caps and loopholes as well as some good, sly pokes at the cheats: "Harvard's team was suspended from games in 1999 when it was discovered that some of its players were paying other students to do their homework. Seems they didn't learn their lesson: it happened again 12 years later!" "Supercool" indeed. (Nonfiction. 8-14)

ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

A companion volume to Baseballogy (2015), this large-format book offers plenty of enjoyable anecdotes from basketball history, along with fast facts and statistics. Each two-page spread introduces a different topic, from "Tick-Tock!" (changes brought about by the 1954 introduction of the shot clock) to "Feet Firsts" (shifting styles in the players' shoes from 1920 to the present) to "Big Bucks" (the overall rise since 1968 in NBA star players' earnings, peaking in the 1997 98 season). The book is strong on coverage of the history of African Americans in the game and the participation of women as players at every level, as coaches, and as owners of NBA teams. A radio sportscaster covering Toronto Raptors games for many years, Sylvester knows basketball and writes about it with flair. Presenting topics involving number-related facts, the many creative graphs and charts make the information easy to comprehend, while his cartoon-style illustrations add to the book's appeal. Kids who pick up this colorful book for browsing will soon be sharing it with friends.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A collection of basketball facts that extend knowledge of the game rather than simply pepper it with curios. Sylvester has gathered here a healthy variety of basketball information that helps set the sport in evolutionary and socio-economic contexts. It starts, of course, with James Naismith, a peach basket, and a bunch of bored boys. And certainly the inclusion of some oddballogy keeps readers entertained: "The backboard appeared in 1895 to stop spectators from reaching for the ball." A two-page spread on hair is also worthy of extended examination, with the likes of Dr. J, James Harden, Metta World Peace, Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins, and, never to be forgotten, Dennis Rodman—all represented only by hair placed over negative space. There are nods to the WNBA and the importance of Title IX, but what gives the book its real oomph is introducing questions of race, sexual orientation, global reach, the wheelchair game, and economic accessibility in the form of street games. A fascinating chronology of African-American involvement in basketball is scattered throughout the pages, and there's a clear sense of the game's salary caps and loopholes as well as some good, sly pokes at the cheats: "Harvard's team was suspended from games in 1999 when it was discovered that some of its players were paying other students to do their homework. Seems they didn't learn their lesson: it happened again 12 years later!" "Supercool" indeed. (Nonfiction. 8-14)

School Library Journal (Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 4-7An in-depth overview of basketball history from James Naismith's invention of the game in 1891 to the international phenomenon it is today. Each bright and busy spread focuses on a different aspect of how the sport evolved, covering play rules to the color barrier to shoes worn on the court over time. The pages contain a wealth of information; however, the layout can prove difficult to read with varying graphics and typefaces scattered across spreads. Catchy, punny section titles like "Wood You Like to Play a Game?" and "Don't Quibble with the Dribble," are engaging but can seem juvenile. There are more serious conversations included, such as the cost of inflation when attending a game in the present day versus in 1960. Sylvester also excellently highlights racial, gender, and physical diversity with images and detailed facts. The end papers contain trivia, the original rules, and resources to learn more. VERDICT Consider this information-packed volume wherever basketball is popular.Emily Bayci, Naperville Public Library, IL