Nonfiction Monday: Hoop Genius by John Coy

January 13, 2013 by Travis Jonker

The Nonfiction Monday round-up is right here (see below). If you’d like to be included, share a link in the comments.

Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
By John Coy
Illustrated by Joe Morse

Carolrhoda Books (Lerner)

ISBN: 9780761366171
$16.95
Grades 1-4
In Stores March 1, 2013

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

Often, sports books tend to fall into two categories: up-to-the-second titles about specific teams and players, or greatest of all time-type operations, that cover the records and best players ever. One thing that isn’t very common is a title that shows how a particular sport came to be. With Hoop Genius, that’s what we have. A picture book history of basketball by way of its inventor. It’s a good book to see.

Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Basketball was created not out of a spirit of fun, but one of survival. When young teacher James Naismith took over the rowdiest gym class around, he needed a way to keep the activity high, but with, you know, fewer injuries. Indoor football (not surprisingly) didn’t work. Neither did indoor soccer. Lacrosse? Nope. Naismith recalled the skill games of his youth and decided to invent a sport with no tackling and more accuracy. He got creative. A soccer ball. A peach basket. Before long, basketball was born.

The text is lively and to the point, making the most of the few words on each page. While I sometimes wished for more info (was it a high school or college gym class (it was college)? Where was it located (Springfield, MA)?), it makes for a book that works for even younger readers. While the title suggests it, this isn’t a Naismith biography – the focus is on the sport rather than its inventor.

Cool blues, violets, and greens dominate the illustrations. Morse (Play Ball, Jackie!) toys with proportions, giving the characters a slightly surreal quality. They capture an old-time feel but are crisp and bold, with fine shading.

More personal than a “who, what, when” recap, Hoop Genius puts readers at the birthplace of basketball. Here’s guessing it’s a story that they’ll remember.

Digital review copy from Netgalley.