Did you know that basketball was invented by a Canadian?
Despite Canada’s lack of NBA teams (though we do have the Toronto Raptors), it is still a game many people in Canada enjoy…which brings me to today’s book review: B is for Basketball: An Alphabet Book.
Published by McKellar and Martin (2010), B is for Basketball is a collaboration with the students and teachers of school district No. 50 (Haida Gwaii) with illustrations by Judy Hilgemann.
From the jacketflap: “Basketball has been an integral part of life in northern British Columbia’s aboriginal communities for generations, culminating each year with the All Native Basketball Tournament in Prince Rupert, B.C. We believe children need books that reflect the world they see around them. After discovery that there were no books on Aboriginal basketball for young children, we decided to create one. Hidden within its pages are may more stories to be told.”
Why I like it:
1) While this is an alphabet book, it also succeeds in painting a picture of the All Native Basketball Tournament. Now in its 53rd year, this is a significant cultural event in B.C. and I found it gave a nice window into a part of their culture that I was largely unaware of.
2)More than one word is used to highlight the various letters of the alphabet. For Aa: “Aunties from Alaska arrive at the All Native Tournament”. Additionally, for each letter, there is a list of other words that are in the illustration. My son liked trying to find them all, and some of them were kind of tricky!
3) The detailed watercolour illustrations by Judy Hilgemann give depth and invite the reader to share in the experience of the basketball tournament . Each page also has a smaller illustration of something (bentwood box, abalone shell) which can be found in the Haida Gwaii and are important both to the community and environment as well. To learn more about Haida Gwaii, go to http://www.gohaidagwaii.ca
With a foreward by award winning artist Robert Davidson, B is for Basketball is definitely a great little book to teach the alphabet and aboriginal culture as well!
——>*Giveaway* For a chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment below on who you would share this book with. Unfortunately (or fortunately for some) this is only open to Canadian residents. Winner to be drawn at random April 18th.
I'm Jackie, a Vancouver based mother, writer and storyteller, and this is my space to share with you the books that my boys love and how they weave together with our life. Here you'll find book reviews and suggestions, information on Canadian publishers, as well as occasional poems, stories, reflections, and musings on my writing journey and where it takes me...
I didn’t know that basketball was invented in Canada! Cool! I’m not Canadian
BUT I’ve gone to vacation there 
Actually, it was invented in the U.S., only by a Canadian…:)
I would love to share this book with my two boys…who btw love basketball and just saw The Harlem Globetrotters last week in Oshawa. While they certainly know their ABCs, I know they would enjoy both the baskeball facts and learning about the Haida Gwaii. Their great, great grand mother was Mi’kmaq, so they have a very personal curiosity about native cultures. Interesting book and review, thank you!
that’s really cool about your boys’ Mi’kmaq heritage and that you got to see the Harlem Globetrotters! Stay tuned for more upcoming giveaways.
That definitely would be a hit in our library!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharen! Be sure to check in over the next few weeks as I will have some more giveaways!
Sounds like a great book and a fun and interesting way to learn the alphabet. I’d love to read it to my nephews
It’s great to hear of First Nations books that are about subjects other than just myths and legends….will be helpful in fighting against stereotyping. Looks great!
Love reading your reviews, Jackie! I get some new book ideas for Hannah.
I teach at a school with a high population of Aboriginal students. All my students LOVE when I read them books with Aboriginal content because they either see themselves or their friends in the characters in the books! This book will be especially perfect for my little grade 1 Aboriginal student who is obsessed with basketball (becuase her momma is and has passed the love on). They both came to every home game we had this basketball season! With this book she will get three things she loves: basketball, reading, and a book with Aboriginal content! I will definitely pass this title on to our Aboriginal childcare worker and librarian. We need to get it ordered for our school.
Congrats, Charisma! You are the winner as generated by random.org. I’ll be getting in touch with you about sending the book. Cheers!
I would share this book with my son (just 7 weeks old). I grew up in Prince Rupert and love visiting my family there. I would love to share stories from my hometown with my son.
that’s cool you are from Prince Rupert…I had no idea about the All Native Basketball Tournament…anyways, stay tuned for more giveaways in the future!
Thanks for stopping by, everyone…I did a random draw (courtesy of random.org) and Charisma is the winner of B is for Basketball. Be sure to stop by for future giveaways and more book reviews!
I know it’s way past the deadline, but I wanted you to know that I’m going to look for a copy of this book to give to my son anyway. Why?
1. He is a complete basketball fanatic
2. He is a policy analyst for environmental issues and partnerships involving our aboriginal communities, especially in the north
3. He has 2 small children he would love reading this book to.
Thank you for this post!
Hello,
Thanks so much for the amazing review of B is for Basketball: An Alphabet Book!! We are extremely proud of this collaboration with the students and teachers of School District #50, Haida Gwaii (it was one of the authors who sent the link to me), and are thrilled to know it’s reaching kids, fans of the sport, and of the All Native Tournament! Thanks again, t