Basketball Belles

February 14, 2011
In this rousing picture book, Macy and Collins take readers to the (very) early days of women's basketball through the eyes of Agnes Morley, who offers a play-by-play account of an 1896 game between Stanford and Berkeley—the first ever between two women's basketball teams. Agnes's first-person account is laced with information about how the game was played at the time, as well as her confident inner thoughts ("I think that a lady can be tough and strong as well as refined and polite"). Whether Agnes is wrangling with a calf on her family's ranch or diving for a loose ball, her determination shines through in Collins's dynamic, painterly digital spreads. Ages 6–10.

February 15, 2011
In 1896, a historic basketball game was played between the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. It was the first women's intercollegiate game, played five years after basketball was invented. Agnes Morley, a rancher's daughter, narrates the story and excels as a Stanford player during the groundbreaking event. The focus is on the play-by-play of the game, which had different rules for women and was attended by 500 cheering female spectators. Collins' digitally created artwork captures the dynamic game and develops the characters, from Morley's determination as she brands a calf on her ranch to her team's exuberance at their victory in the game. While seemingly meant to introduce readers to the history of women's basketball, the story is so brief as to seem slight. Readers will crave more information: What types of shoes do the players wear? Why are the nets closed? How did this particular game come about? What happens next? An author's note fleshes out some biographical details about Morley and the other players and discusses women's basketball in America. A timeline is included, but unfortunately it ends in 1997 with the introduction of the WNBA. A resource section lists books and places to visit, and a photograph of the 1896 Stanford women's basketball team concludes the book. The excellent backmatter, however, doesn't compensate enough for the too-slim story. (Nonfiction 7-11) 

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 1, 2011

Gr 2-5-In 1896, female athletes faced two foes: their on-court rivals, and the rigid code of ladylike behavior. In this engaging picture book, Macy recounts the first basketball game played between two women's college teams through the eyes of a participant, Stanford's Agnes Morley. High-spirited Agnes grew up on a New Mexico cattle ranch, where "getting dirty came with the territory." Since it was considered not "proper for women to perspire in front of men" by the UC Berkeley team, the game took place before an all-female crowd. In a comedic intermission, two male workers came out to repair a basket; in Laurel and Hardy-like fashion, one stared so much, he almost knocked the other off a ladder. Playing guard, Agnes wondered how she could prevent her taller opponents from scoring and found herself in an intense struggle. With the players confined to rigid sections of the court, the game hinged on the outcome of two foul shots. Collins's colorful, exuberant digital illustrations capture all the high-spirited drama and fun. Macy adds authenticity with a fact-filled author's note. This excellent book offers plenty of teaching possibilities, and it should delight a wide audience.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2011
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* There are plenty of books about basketball and some good ones about womens firsts. This one, though, does a particularly great job of putting the two themes together as it introduces Agnes Morely and her teammates, who played in the first all-female intercollegiate basketball game. Macy uses Agnes first-person narrative to great advantage, bringing readers right into the young womans world from the first line: Nobody can ever accuse me of being a girly-girl. Raised on a New Mexico ranch, Agnes begins playing basketball at Stanford, and she takes part in the historic game between Stanford and Berkeley in 1896. The sprightly text gives the games details, but it is Collins fabulous, in-your-face paintings that bring the palpable excitement home. From the energetic cover to the spread of four girls scrambling over a basketball on the court to the final images of the Stanford team jumping and screaming in celebration, the art amplifies the action. Collins adds clever details that contribute to the you-are-there feeling, such as scenes of running legs and a janitor on a ladder fixing the hoop. The authors note and time line add depth to a book thats both fun and informative.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)