What do you think?
Rate this book
Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
Taking over a rowdy gym class right before winter vacation is not something James Naismith wants to do at all. The last two teachers of this class quit in frustration. The students--a bunch of energetic young men--are bored with all the regular games and activities. Naismith needs something new, exciting, and fast to keep the class happy...or someone's going to get hurt. His only resources are a gymnasium, a couple peach baskets, some soccer balls, and his imagination. Saving this class is going to take a genius. Discover the true story of how Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at a school in Springfield, Massachusetts.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
John Coy
44 books46 followers John Coy is the author of young adult novels, the 4 for 4 middle-grade series, and fiction and nonfiction picture books. John has received numerous awards for his work including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award for best first picture book, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Notable Book for a Global Society, and the Burr/Warzalla Award for Distinguished Achievement in Children’s Literature. He lives in Minneapolis and visits schools around the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
Read
December 8, 2014Interesting!
Sometimes I wonder why books like Locomotive and this one are considered children's books. People of all ages would benefit from history picture books.
The mustaches.
Sometimes I wonder why books like Locomotive and this one are considered children's books. People of all ages would benefit from history picture books.
The mustaches.
August 19, 2013
This book is a very short story about why basketball was invented. It would make a good book to carry with me for those times when I am subbing and have some extra time for a read-aloud. There are two things about the book, though, that leave me a bit unsatisfied.
First of all, the rules that Naismith came up with are included on the fly leafs (leaves?), but they are not part of the text of the story. It would have been interesting to me to have them included in the story - and the reason those specific rules were added. Did Naismith come up with the whole game at once? Did he find that parts of the game worked well, but some things had to be tweaked a bit, in order to work better? It seems a bit unrealistic to think that the whole game was worked out overnight and they just started playing it the next day - in mostly final form.
Secondly, it would be interesting to add a few words about how the game had changed: major modifications (e.g., for women to play), rules changes, how the game has evolved. I suppose that would have made the book too long for a short read aloud, though. Maybe I will look up some of the books mentioned in the bibliography.
I am not a huge fan of the illustrations, but they do show movement well. Was this really a college class? Many of the players seem to be sporting mustaches.
First of all, the rules that Naismith came up with are included on the fly leafs (leaves?), but they are not part of the text of the story. It would have been interesting to me to have them included in the story - and the reason those specific rules were added. Did Naismith come up with the whole game at once? Did he find that parts of the game worked well, but some things had to be tweaked a bit, in order to work better? It seems a bit unrealistic to think that the whole game was worked out overnight and they just started playing it the next day - in mostly final form.
Secondly, it would be interesting to add a few words about how the game had changed: major modifications (e.g., for women to play), rules changes, how the game has evolved. I suppose that would have made the book too long for a short read aloud, though. Maybe I will look up some of the books mentioned in the bibliography.
I am not a huge fan of the illustrations, but they do show movement well. Was this really a college class? Many of the players seem to be sporting mustaches.
October 7, 2013
Ah, basketball! The popular sport that consumes the imaginations of many for months at a time, even to the point that the whole month of March is dedicated to the removal of teams as they march toward the national championship is the focus of this delightful picture book. But it wasn't always so! Most sports fans already know that James Naismith "invented" the sport of basketball, relying on two peach baskets into which the balls would be thrown. But what they may not know is the rest of the story, which is told here in a fashion sure to entice the most reluctant reader. When Naismith takes on a gym class that has already caused two other teachers to quit, he quickly realizes that he will be the next one to go unless he can come up with a way to harness the boys' energy while limiting their rowdiness. By adding fouls, he controlled their violent tendencies. Not only does the book cover basketball for men, but there are a couple of pages dedicated to women's basketball. The text and illustrations sparkle, and the pages are filled with rowdy men filled with energy. I'd be surprised to learn that young readers don't keep coming back to this one.
June 19, 2013
I enjoy high school and college basketball. There was not one thing I liked about this title. There was really not enough information about the beginnings of basketball. The language was stilted and the illustrations were very unappealing--almost scary.
December 10, 2016
Love this book! It may be just because I love basketball, but I enjoy incorporating a true story in a fun way. The illustrations made the information given by this book come to life.
January 16, 2021
Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball is a children's picture book written by John Coy and illustrated by Joe Morse. This picture-book basketball history spotlights how James Naismith came to invent the game now played around the world. As an aside, today's Google Doodle (15 January 2021) celebrated James Naismith, which I thought it would be fitting to read this book today.
James Naismith was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, Christian chaplain, sports coach, and innovator. In 1891, following studies at McGill University, he left Montreal for Springfield, Massachusetts, and invented the game of basketball. He wrote the original basketball rule book and founded the University of Kansas basketball program.
Coy's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Coy's narrative is sparse, but nicely explains the creation of basketball from James Naismith. Backmatter includes an author's note, bibliography, and the original thirteen rules to basketball written by Naismith. Morse's stylized prints, whose poster-like quality is amplified by the limited palette of blue, brown, and maroon creates much dynamism.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Young teacher James Naismith takes over a gym class of unruly young men. Thirteen rules, a ball, and two peach baskets later, he develops a new game that demands accuracy while tempering aggressiveness. However, with so little context provided, readers may question where this class was being held, why the boys look like men the same age as Naismith and how Naismith came to work with them.
All in all, Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball is a good, albeit limited book about the creation of basketball and its creator – James Naismith.
James Naismith was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, Christian chaplain, sports coach, and innovator. In 1891, following studies at McGill University, he left Montreal for Springfield, Massachusetts, and invented the game of basketball. He wrote the original basketball rule book and founded the University of Kansas basketball program.
Coy's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Coy's narrative is sparse, but nicely explains the creation of basketball from James Naismith. Backmatter includes an author's note, bibliography, and the original thirteen rules to basketball written by Naismith. Morse's stylized prints, whose poster-like quality is amplified by the limited palette of blue, brown, and maroon creates much dynamism.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Young teacher James Naismith takes over a gym class of unruly young men. Thirteen rules, a ball, and two peach baskets later, he develops a new game that demands accuracy while tempering aggressiveness. However, with so little context provided, readers may question where this class was being held, why the boys look like men the same age as Naismith and how Naismith came to work with them.
All in all, Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball is a good, albeit limited book about the creation of basketball and its creator – James Naismith.
January 13, 2020
Great overview of how/why basketball was invented. Would be great to use in a gym class to kick off a basketball unit!
September 26, 2013
Morse's illustrations are mesmerizing. I looked and relooked at the wildly exagerrated figure drawings of the gym class. The crowded compositions ensure overlapping of huge hands, lanky arms and too-long necks, and mustachioed heads. The feeling of chaos told about in the text is told much further and better in the pictures. It's one of the few complementary illustration sets I've read in the past weeks (the complementary relationship to the text is true for many, but not all of the pictures). Morse's style of painting faces is incredible, with a signature overplaying of flesh around eyes that seems to put each figure's emotions at the surface; likewise with his treatment of mouths and teeth. These facial details are so noticeable.
The color scheme was extremely unusual, and the fact the boys were likely wearing gym uniforms made the duotone style feel realistic. The hilarious moment in the illustration is that the setting is in the 1890s, but when James Naismith had a flashback, Morse gave it the 'black and white = the past' treatment (almost--he has plenty of blue and green in these 'b/w' paintings). Great semiotics! I knew exactly what it was doing.
The text is plain and direct and presents the story clearly. The text has little of the tone and emotion in Morse's illustrations. The key skill in the writing here is in the selection of the specific episodes to storyboard the book. I wonder what the process for writing was, and how much Coy used a storyboard to sense the pace of how the page turns would work?
Key moment in the text worth noting: Arranging games for women, and then seeing women's competitive nature come to the surface during the game. It was a great illustration moment to see the young woman with her fist balled up and shaking it in Naismith's face.
The color scheme was extremely unusual, and the fact the boys were likely wearing gym uniforms made the duotone style feel realistic. The hilarious moment in the illustration is that the setting is in the 1890s, but when James Naismith had a flashback, Morse gave it the 'black and white = the past' treatment (almost--he has plenty of blue and green in these 'b/w' paintings). Great semiotics! I knew exactly what it was doing.
The text is plain and direct and presents the story clearly. The text has little of the tone and emotion in Morse's illustrations. The key skill in the writing here is in the selection of the specific episodes to storyboard the book. I wonder what the process for writing was, and how much Coy used a storyboard to sense the pace of how the page turns would work?
Key moment in the text worth noting: Arranging games for women, and then seeing women's competitive nature come to the surface during the game. It was a great illustration moment to see the young woman with her fist balled up and shaking it in Naismith's face.
July 9, 2016
I received an electronic ARC through NetGalley.
I loved this nonfiction picture book about the invention of basketball. James Naismith takes over a gym class that is so rowdy that it has caused two teachers to quit. The class does not like the typical indoor gym activities of the time (1891), so Naismith tries indoor football, soccer, and lacrosse. The students are so rough there are many injuries.
Naismith has to come up with something that can be played indoors and does not promote contact between players. He remembers a game that he played as a child called "Duck on a Rock." In the game you throw a rock at your opponent's rock that is on top of a larger rock. Accuracy is important. During that night the first rules for the game of basketball are developed.
Basketball is very popular with the men in the class. On Christmas break, they take it home and teach their friends. Soon the game becomes popular. (In the Author's Note we learn that the YMCA also helped teach the game nationwide.) By 1936, basketball becomes an Olympic sport.
The pictures are wonderful. They help put you in the time frame. Period clothing and a muted pallete help bring the feel of 1891. I love how the lines are rounder in the last spread that shows modern basketball, bringing a more modern feel.
I also love what I assume are the endpapers - at the front and back of the book are a copy of the original rules for basketball posted in 1891. Reading through these rules shows how much basketball has changed in the years that it has been played.
I loved this nonfiction picture book about the invention of basketball. James Naismith takes over a gym class that is so rowdy that it has caused two teachers to quit. The class does not like the typical indoor gym activities of the time (1891), so Naismith tries indoor football, soccer, and lacrosse. The students are so rough there are many injuries.
Naismith has to come up with something that can be played indoors and does not promote contact between players. He remembers a game that he played as a child called "Duck on a Rock." In the game you throw a rock at your opponent's rock that is on top of a larger rock. Accuracy is important. During that night the first rules for the game of basketball are developed.
Basketball is very popular with the men in the class. On Christmas break, they take it home and teach their friends. Soon the game becomes popular. (In the Author's Note we learn that the YMCA also helped teach the game nationwide.) By 1936, basketball becomes an Olympic sport.
The pictures are wonderful. They help put you in the time frame. Period clothing and a muted pallete help bring the feel of 1891. I love how the lines are rounder in the last spread that shows modern basketball, bringing a more modern feel.
I also love what I assume are the endpapers - at the front and back of the book are a copy of the original rules for basketball posted in 1891. Reading through these rules shows how much basketball has changed in the years that it has been played.
June 26, 2015
Twin Text: Levi Strauss Gets a New Pair of Pants: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants by Tony Johnston, 2011
Rationale: In Hoop Genius, we learn that James Naismith had a big problem with an especially rowdy gym class he was teaching. As he tried to come up with an activity that would be less rough than the standard games of football, soccer, and lacrosse but still be engaging, he invented basketball. Levi Strauss also came across a problem that needed to be solved. Both stories offer examples of problem solving in real-life situations and could also be used in a unit about inventions, perseverance, or new ideas.
Structure: Hoop Genius is told in a narrative nonfiction format with details shared in chronological order.
Strategy: I would use the strategy of activating prior knowledge with this text set. The students would likely have played basketball on numerous occasions in gym class, at recess, or outside of school. I would open with a discussion about what makes basketball different from other sports, and ask them to make predictions about why they think basketball would be invented. After reading Hoop Genius, we would discuss how that same strategy of problem solving and creativeness could be used to solve other problems and then compare and contrast how Levi Strauss's developed a solution to make pants more durable for the gold miners.
Rationale: In Hoop Genius, we learn that James Naismith had a big problem with an especially rowdy gym class he was teaching. As he tried to come up with an activity that would be less rough than the standard games of football, soccer, and lacrosse but still be engaging, he invented basketball. Levi Strauss also came across a problem that needed to be solved. Both stories offer examples of problem solving in real-life situations and could also be used in a unit about inventions, perseverance, or new ideas.
Structure: Hoop Genius is told in a narrative nonfiction format with details shared in chronological order.
Strategy: I would use the strategy of activating prior knowledge with this text set. The students would likely have played basketball on numerous occasions in gym class, at recess, or outside of school. I would open with a discussion about what makes basketball different from other sports, and ask them to make predictions about why they think basketball would be invented. After reading Hoop Genius, we would discuss how that same strategy of problem solving and creativeness could be used to solve other problems and then compare and contrast how Levi Strauss's developed a solution to make pants more durable for the gold miners.
July 18, 2014
The Springfield MA gym class had already forced two teachers to quit, and James Naismith really didn’t want to take the job of teaching this group, but he accepted. The young men had no interest in calisthenics or gymnastics, so Naismith tried indoor versions of football, soccer, and lacrosse. These were exciting enough, but the illustrations imply that they incurred many injuries. Naismith needed something totally new and he decided to try one more experiment. His new game was influenced by the childhood favorite, Duck on a Rock, where the goal was to throw a rock to dislodge your opponent’s rock from a larger rock, which took more accuracy and skill as opposed to force. On Dec. 21, 1891, he introduced the game using two peach baskets and a soccer ball, and was an instant success, with the players improving their strategies to avoid fouling out of the game. A new sport was invented, and the rest is history. The text is surrounded by contemporary artwork and the original two pages of typewritten rules are reproduced. The Author’s Note provides further biographical information, and in addition to a bibliography, the author references the places and people who assisted in his research. Great book for grades 2-5. This review is based on a netgalley.
March 12, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book, because I never really knew the history behind the game of basketball. I knew it had originally been played with peach baskets and was invented by a teacher. I was amused at how this book shows the innovation of a teacher who is desperate to corral a bunch of rowdy students, especially because I am a teacher. I also liked how it demonstrated the trial and error involved in creating the game. I think it is important for kids to realize that great things don't necessarily happen without a lot of experimentation and perseverance until you get it right.
The illustrations amused me, as they are reminiscent of an older style of drawing. I got a kick out of how the players become increasingly injured as the story goes on, as Naismith kept trying out new ideas. The history buff in me loves seeing the original typewritten rules, as well. While it mentions how basketball evolved to the sport that it is today, it doesn't dwell on the current game. Some may think of this as a downfall. I like that it stays true to its title. Interested children may be inspired to research more about it.
I think this book will appeal to kids in kindergarten or lower elementary and up.
I received a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
The illustrations amused me, as they are reminiscent of an older style of drawing. I got a kick out of how the players become increasingly injured as the story goes on, as Naismith kept trying out new ideas. The history buff in me loves seeing the original typewritten rules, as well. While it mentions how basketball evolved to the sport that it is today, it doesn't dwell on the current game. Some may think of this as a downfall. I like that it stays true to its title. Interested children may be inspired to research more about it.
I think this book will appeal to kids in kindergarten or lower elementary and up.
I received a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 1, 2015
Week 8 Historical Fiction Picture Book
The story takes place in 1891 about a teacher, James Naismith, took over a rowdy gym class that no one wanted to teach. To get the students attention, he tried football (too rough), indoor soccer (too rough), lacrosse (too rough) and nothing seemed to work. He needed a game that involved no tacking, no running with a ball. Basketball was invented and the students all eagerly wanted to play and because of not wanting to foul and sit out, it was not too rough. In 1892 women wanted to play as well and one woman in particular (who played as hard as a man) became his wife. In 1936, basketball became so popular around the world that it became an Olympic sport. I like that this story shows James as a teacher who would not give up on his class. He continued to look for what would inspire and change his students and that inspired the great game of basketball. The illustration in this book are so engaging. The colors and shades that are chosen make 1891 look lively. The faces are so detailed you can almost read what the character is thinking. The strong literary element is the plot. It does a nice job for building the reader up and understanding who James was as a person. I would definitely recommend this book.
The story takes place in 1891 about a teacher, James Naismith, took over a rowdy gym class that no one wanted to teach. To get the students attention, he tried football (too rough), indoor soccer (too rough), lacrosse (too rough) and nothing seemed to work. He needed a game that involved no tacking, no running with a ball. Basketball was invented and the students all eagerly wanted to play and because of not wanting to foul and sit out, it was not too rough. In 1892 women wanted to play as well and one woman in particular (who played as hard as a man) became his wife. In 1936, basketball became so popular around the world that it became an Olympic sport. I like that this story shows James as a teacher who would not give up on his class. He continued to look for what would inspire and change his students and that inspired the great game of basketball. The illustration in this book are so engaging. The colors and shades that are chosen make 1891 look lively. The faces are so detailed you can almost read what the character is thinking. The strong literary element is the plot. It does a nice job for building the reader up and understanding who James was as a person. I would definitely recommend this book.
February 1, 2019
Hoop Genius has provided me with a hook to grab the attention of students whose attention I don't always manage to grab. The story of James Naismith and his efforts to get the interest of his own rowdy group (who had already managed to run off two other teachers) is presented with few words, dry humor, bold and subtly funny illustrations (see if your students notice the increasing numbers of bandages with each failed "experiment"). Aside from being an interesting story in and of itself, this book provides a launch pad into a variety of discussion topics: inventors and inventions, adages (such as "necessity is the mother of invention"), changing roles and expectations for women in different time periods, primary source material, and all via a high-interest topic (sports) to lead in to demonstration of online resources such as databases and encyclopedias as tools. The Selected Bibliography at the end offers a great opportunity to explore format and citation. I was pleasantly surprised at how many students dove right into the online encyclopedias to look into their favorite sport/athlete.
September 29, 2019
Sports History
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While the audience for this book was undoubtedly children. I learned a lot from this book about the genesis of Basketball
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While the audience for this book was undoubtedly children. I learned a lot from this book about the genesis of Basketball
March 23, 2018
This book was great to inspire students to learn history about a sport that they may like. I think that this story shows students that they can create an idea and that it can become huge. This book also shows that students need an outlet athletically.
I think that this would be a good read for boys that need to write a paper as well that would interest them.
The pictures also bring interest for students as well.
I think that this would be a good read for boys that need to write a paper as well that would interest them.
The pictures also bring interest for students as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2017
Excellent little story about Naismith and fun to use for March Madness intro. Great author notes and bibliography. I especially love the illustrations since you can talk about the artist rendering of large hands with basketball. I use it with 6th graders as a foundation to explain how our book March Madness works.
March 28, 2017
This was an interesting and entertaining book based on the true history of basketball. Colorful illustrations depict physical education in the late 1800's. A fantastic biography for children, this would be a great book to use in the classroom to talk about basketball or even the general concept of inventions.
Read
December 2, 2017Illustrations look like they are done in a paint and colored pencil or pen.
This nonfiction book is about why and how basketball was invented.
The end pages depict the first draft of the game of basketball, which is super cool. This is definitely a non fiction book rather than informational because everything is accurately depicted.
This nonfiction book is about why and how basketball was invented.
The end pages depict the first draft of the game of basketball, which is super cool. This is definitely a non fiction book rather than informational because everything is accurately depicted.
November 19, 2018
I really liked this book because it shows how my favorite sport was created! I always knew that it was created by James Naismith during a gym class but I did not know he created it so his class would not be so rowdy and to try something new and exciting. This book is non fiction and in the 2nd-4th grade range
April 5, 2013
This illustrated book shows in a simplistic and accessible way how the game of basketball was invented by James Naismith. This is a great, quick read-aloud story to share of how basketball came to be.
July 4, 2013
James had a problem and to solve it, he created a game! What a great person to highlight when you are talking about STEM and actively trying to solve problems. The story was great, but the pictures were not my cup of tea.
July 24, 2013
Great picture book for grades 2-12 during Basketball Season to know the history of basketball. UK fans can bring in that Anthony Davis won the Naismith Award as a freshman and the only UK player to ever do so.
March 23, 2015
It was so much fun to read how basketball was invented. Kids will love this book and they will learn the rules of "Duck on a Rock" as well as basketball.
The illustrations are fabulous - kudos Joe Morse!
The illustrations are fabulous - kudos Joe Morse!
October 25, 2015
James Naismith is teaching a rowdy class. The rowdy class was all men so they didn't like boring exercises like gymnastics. He wanted to try something fun. He tried football, soccer and lacrosse. They weren't good enough. So he remebered in his childhood that he made a game called duck on a rock.
January 9, 2016
It was an interesting, quick read. I love basketball, and I was left wanting more. I would have loved more information on the acceptance into the Olympics. I'm not sure exactly how it will play with the kids, be we shall see.
January 28, 2016
3.5 stars. I'm not a sports person but I thought this was a fun picture book about how basketball got started. I also really liked the retro illustrations and styles in the book, but I'm not sure how kids would like it.
My favorite part is when the women teachers want to play and Naismith agrees.
My favorite part is when the women teachers want to play and Naismith agrees.
April 10, 2016
This book is a great true story. This is a fun learning book. I learned so many new facts about how basketball was made. If you are interested in learning how this great sport was created, you would want to read this book. Hope you enjoy it!!!
Read
April 11, 2016I wasn't sure what to expect by reading this book but it really suprised. I never knew the true history of basketball. I think the students will be able to relate to a teacher trying to control and entertain an energetic class. Most of the students enjoy sports so they will love this story.
December 31, 2016
A fantastically illustrated true story of how one determined man and a class of rowdy high school boys worked together to create a new game: basketball. Even if you are not into sports, which I am not, this is a fascinating quick read that all ages will enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews