Allie's Basketball Dream - Hardcover

Barbara E. Barber is the author of poetry that has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Writer, and Midwest Poetry Review. She lives in New York City.

Darryl Ligasan is a native of the Philippines, and now lives in New York City, where he works as an illustrator and designer, and teaches at the School of Visual Arts.

Kindergarten-Grade 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
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.