Allie's dad gives her a brand-new basketball, then drops her off at the park so that she can try it out. She doesn't have much success making baskets, and her friends discourage her because they think basketball is a boy's game. Buddy even offers a trade--his volleyball for her basketball. That only makes Allie recall how much she has dreamed of being a basketball player, and after she renews her practice, she makes the shots. The story is slight, but children will appreciate Allie's triumph and tenacity, as well as the glowing illustrations. By scanning original paintings and modifying the results with computer software, Ligasan has managed to produce some unusual perspectives and deliver plenty of motion in his depiction of Allie, who is African American, and her integrated neighborhood and assortment of friends. (Reviewed January 1 & 15, 1997)

Allie battles the boys of basketball as she takes to the city's courts with her new ball. Confronted with the opinion that basketball is a boy's game, Allie proves that girls 'can' play hoop. The story ends predictably, and the computer-created art is flat and cartoonlike. The illustrations do capture the energy of the sport, the diverse urban setting, and the determination of a young African-American girl.

K-Gr 2-Allie, a young black girl, receives a basketball as a gift from her father. Having been in love with the sport since she attended a game at Madison Square Garden, she's anxious to test her skills with her new ball. Her father walks her to a park where she shoots a few hoops with little success. As time goes by, Allie runs into friends and acquaintances who decline to join her on the court, some even commenting that they thought basketball was "for boys." Undaunted, the girl begins to find the range of her shot, and those who previously scoffed at her efforts begin to take notice. This pleasant though unremarkable story presents a strong female protagonist and a multiethnic supporting cast. The full-color illustrations, "created using a variety of traditional and digital techniques," radiate from the page, producing an almost fluorescent glow. An additional purchase for libraries looking for picture books about sports.-Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI