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The Basket Ball
Lulu prefers playing basketball to playing with dolls. So when the boys won’t let her join their school-yard team, she decides to host a Basket Ball—where ball gowns are traded in for sequined basketball jerseys and high-top heels! Girls travel from all over the world to attend the ball, shooting hoops, showing off their skills, and forming a league of their own.
Bestselling and award-winning author Esmé Raji Codell has crafted an action-packed, slam-dunk picture book that will appeal to girlie girls and sporty girls alike.
The book includes a glossary of basketball terms.
Bestselling and award-winning author Esmé Raji Codell has crafted an action-packed, slam-dunk picture book that will appeal to girlie girls and sporty girls alike.
The book includes a glossary of basketball terms.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
5 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Esmé Raji Codell
22 books148 followersEsme Raji Codell is the recipient of a prestigious James Patterson Pageturner Award for spreading the excitement of books in an effective and original way. She has been a keynote speaker for the International Reading Association and the American Library Association, a “virtual” keynote for the National Education Association’s “Stay Afloat!” online conference for first-year teachers, and a featured speaker at the National Museum for Women in the Arts. She has appeared on CBS’s The Early Show, CNN, C-SPAN, and NPR, among other media outlets across the country. The author of How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, as well as five award-winning books for children, Esmé runs the popular children’s literature website and the unique literary salon, PlanetEsme.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 6, 2011
While I have always had the height, I have never had the agility necessary to rock the game of basketball. But after reading Esme Raji Codell's The Basket Ball, gorgeously illustrated by Jennifer Plecas, I feel like i just might be able to play with the best of them. The best of them being her adorable protagonist, Lulu, who "skirts" the edges between the worlds of dresses and tea sets and free throws and rebounds, with no contradiction between these worlds. That is, until the boys declare that she can no longer play with them. Unfazed, Lulu sets out in creating her own Basket Ball, a gala celebration of girl power, sports, and teamwork. I love, love, love this book for its humor and important message about taking initiative and making the changes we dream. Every girl - and boy- should own a copy of this book! I'm planning on spoiling my proxy nieces and nephews with this book - and you should too.
October 10, 2017
This book displays gender roles by not allowing Lulu on their team because she is a girl. She loves basketball so why can't she play with them? The boys told her that basketball was not a sport that girls should play. So she gathers girls from all around the world to play basketball at her "basket ball" with her and shows the boys that girls can play to. I like how the illustrations in the book were girls of many races and that they are still girly but also enjoy letting loose to play ball just like the boys!
February 21, 2018
I like the idea of this book, but wish it was executed better. Lulu loves to play basketball but the boys will not let her play. So she host a basket ball for other girls in the world. Then they decide to form their own league. The author tries to make the story rhyme, but it is a stretch as the story develops. Girls playing ball in heels. Please. Just not for me. Then the glossary of basketball terms at the end. Nope. Not liking it.
January 13, 2018
Instead of having the girls playing basketball with shorts, of course they are wearing their girly skirts. Really? If you are trying to share a message then get away from the girly, girly concept that the real girls are wearing skirts.
March 1, 2018
The cover of the book would grab anybody's attention because it's a young girl in a dress participating in a activity conformed to male. This book give young girls the empowerment and encouragement they need to be themselves, no matter what it is
August 7, 2019
Cute idea, mediocre execution. The boys won’t let Lulu join the basketball team because she’s a girl, so she creates her own team of teamless girls from around the world. The rhyme is really forced in this one, and the art is okay. It isn’t bad - it could just be much better.
June 2, 2018
Perfect for the girlie girl who loves basketball!
October 25, 2018
Should be enjoyed by kids who love both "girly" stuff and basketball. I agree with the others who said the princess skirts and dress shoes on the court were too silly.
September 15, 2021
Love this book. Girls can be ultra feminine AND love sports. Or science. Or anything.
October 30, 2012
Lu Lu loved to play basketball. When she wanted to play, though, the boys let her know that basketball was not a sport for girls. Instead of her letting it get her down she took matters into her own hands and hosted a Basket Ball. Esme Codelll, a once adult author who eventually realized her heart was that of an elementary school teacher, created this book because she knew it would be "my best for someone." She knew there was a little girl somewhere who needed to read this book. The illustrations were simple but greatly supported the text, I only wish I could have found information about the illustrator.
In the classroom, this book can be used to teach students to never give up what they love to do because of what someone else says. It can also be used to teach more advanced rhyming words (for example: ""girls cannot play" the guard would say, asserting his offensive. "We'd knock you down and doctor's bills are dreadfully expensive," or "Lu Lu could have fought, but no, our Lu Lu did not quibble. She offered up a hanky for the captain's double dribble."). This book also introduces a lot of new terms, particularly basketball terms and even has a glossary of the terms in the back of the book.
In the classroom, this book can be used to teach students to never give up what they love to do because of what someone else says. It can also be used to teach more advanced rhyming words (for example: ""girls cannot play" the guard would say, asserting his offensive. "We'd knock you down and doctor's bills are dreadfully expensive," or "Lu Lu could have fought, but no, our Lu Lu did not quibble. She offered up a hanky for the captain's double dribble."). This book also introduces a lot of new terms, particularly basketball terms and even has a glossary of the terms in the back of the book.
October 10, 2015
This story is about a girl named Lulu who loves basketball. The boys at her school told her that she could not play with them. She decides to invite girls from all over the world to her “Basket Ball”.
This is a realistic fiction book that will raise questions about girls being able to play sports with boys. The girls solve their problem of the boys not letting them play by making their own league. The language was challenging at times but this could help expand the children’s vocabulary. The illustrations show many girls from different races when they come to play in the “ Basket Ball”. The girls were strong enough to say that they don’t need the boys in order to play. The girls did not let the boy’s opinion of “girls cannot play” stand in their way of playing basketball.
This is a realistic fiction book that will raise questions about girls being able to play sports with boys. The girls solve their problem of the boys not letting them play by making their own league. The language was challenging at times but this could help expand the children’s vocabulary. The illustrations show many girls from different races when they come to play in the “ Basket Ball”. The girls were strong enough to say that they don’t need the boys in order to play. The girls did not let the boy’s opinion of “girls cannot play” stand in their way of playing basketball.
April 21, 2013
This adorable fiction story teaches a great lesson for both boys and girls. Lulu the main character gets a bunch of girls to play basketball, after the boys rejected her. I love that Lulu can be a feminine girl as well as an athletic go getter. This book teaches an important lesson about taking initiative. It’s important for both boys and girls to read this book.
December 10, 2013
This book is about a girl doing male activities. Some of the activities she partakes in includes playing basketball, playing with boys at recess, etc. I would use this book in my classroom to show students that there are not certain activities they have to partake in. You are allowed to play and do whatever you want, and people should not judge you for that.
October 16, 2012
This book was so cute! Lulu is a super girly girl who happens to looooove basketball, but the boys won't let her play. So she gets girls together from all around the world to join her team.
#Girl gangs for life. :)
#Girl gangs for life. :)
December 10, 2011
I loved the book. I loved the basketball language mixed in with the story. I loved how Lulu gathered up a bunch of girls to play ball after the boys rejected her. A fun story and great illustrations.
September 28, 2012
What do you do when you can't join the boys' basketball team? You invite other girls to your very own Basket Ball. A great girl-power story featuring basketball vocabulary and fun.
April 20, 2013
Breaking stereotypes of gender roles and allowing equal treatment of boys and girls is fair. Boys and girls should be allowed to do the same things.
May 18, 2013
The mix of basketball phrases into the story was clever.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews