This dynamic picture book about the birth of women's basketball will keep young readers riveted. Raised on a cattle ranch, Agnes Morley was sent to Stanford University to learn to be a lady. Yet in no time she exchanged her breeches and spurs for bloomers and a basketball; and in April 1896 she made history. In a heart--pounding game against the University of California at Berkeley, Agnes led her team to victory in the first-ever intercollegiate women s basketball game, earning national attention and putting women s basketball on the map.
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Sue Macy loves to write about sports and fearless women. Her books have been named ALA Notable Children's Books, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Booklist Editors' Choices, and New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age. She lives in Englewood, NJ. Visit her Web site at suemacy.com
Matt Collins has illustrated many children's books. Booklist called his illustrations for A Picture Book of Harry Houdini "dramatic." He lives in Connecticut.
Matt Collins has illustrated many children's books. Booklist called his illustrations for A Picture Book of Harry Houdini "dramatic." He lives in Connecticut.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Basketball Belles tackles a subject not often addressed in picture book format; the history of women's basketball. It tells the story of the first official women's collegiate basketball game between Stanford and Berkeley that occurred in 1896. The narrator is Agnes Morley, who was an actual player on that first Stanford team. She ably describes the atmosphere of the time when she bemoans that the people at Berkeley don't feel it's proper for women to play basketball outside, so they have to play indoors, and that gentlemen are not allowed to attend. She tells us that she's not a girly girl but can sashay with the best of them, and then later talks about being crushed under the weight of fellow players in a scramble for the ball. The author does a great job of portraying Agnes' love for the game and her determined, independent attitude.
Kids reading this book will marvel at what is obviously a very different game than what we see today. The final score is 2 to 1, no dribbling in sight, a referee in heels and a basket with a pull chain are but some of the things that mark this as a fascinating look back in time. The story of the game itself has a great read aloud flow and is followed by an Author's Note giving more information about Agnes and womens' basketball. There's also a timeline of important events that features lots of interesting information ranging from the invention of basketball itself to the beginning of the WNBA.
The illustrations pair perfectly with the story, further expanding on the text in unexpected ways. They have sort of a Norman Rockwell type feel, and the author was able to effectively capture the determination of these ladies as they put their game faces on. It's his ability to capture their joy at winning and their intensity that will draw young readers in to what is a truly fun and fascinating story. Recommended.
Kids reading this book will marvel at what is obviously a very different game than what we see today. The final score is 2 to 1, no dribbling in sight, a referee in heels and a basket with a pull chain are but some of the things that mark this as a fascinating look back in time. The story of the game itself has a great read aloud flow and is followed by an Author's Note giving more information about Agnes and womens' basketball. There's also a timeline of important events that features lots of interesting information ranging from the invention of basketball itself to the beginning of the WNBA.
The illustrations pair perfectly with the story, further expanding on the text in unexpected ways. They have sort of a Norman Rockwell type feel, and the author was able to effectively capture the determination of these ladies as they put their game faces on. It's his ability to capture their joy at winning and their intensity that will draw young readers in to what is a truly fun and fascinating story. Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Let me start off by saying, I am not a sports fan - especially not a basketball fan - but this book won me over. Well, I'm still not a basketball fan but I am happy to be a cheerleader for Basketball Belles: How Two Teams And One Scrappy Player Put Women's Hoops On The Map. With Matt Collins amazing illustrations, I was immediately whisked back into the late 1890's. Macy's story of Agnes Morley who was sent to Stanford in an attempt to make her "more of a lady" captured for me what it must have been like for a woman in that time period. Having spent four years in the Amherst/Northampton area and surrounded by the rich history of women's colleges (Smith, Mt. Holyoke) it was exciting for me to read about this other piece of women's history. By focusing on the April 4, 1896 historic game between Stanford and Berkley, Macy is able to delve deeply into what that experience must have been like for not only the players but for the spectators as well.
Admittedly, despite Macy's well written text and powerful words, I had to read this story through several times because for the first one or two read throughs I was so caught up in Collin's illustrations. Initially, I was just trying to imagine what it would be like to wear the kinds of clothes they had to wear in those days. The long sleeve tunics and bloomers not to mention the shoes. His attention to details fully enhances the text and captures the reader.
Skip over the next part if you don't want to be spoiled (well we all know how the game ends...it was played after all in 1896), but this ending text very much sums up the book beautifully:
"Victory is ours! We laugh and hug one another, beside
ourselves with joy. We even give a cheer for the other team,
and they for us. What a sight we all are! Our hair is messy.
Our bloomers are torn. Our faces are streaked with sweat.
This might not be what my mother had in mind when she sent
me to Stanford to become a lady. But I think that a lady can be
tough and strong as well as refind and polite. She can even
play basketball." - Sue Macy, Basketball Belles
As I mentioned earlier, this is a "Wow! Oh, Wow!" book for me. I bought a copy for me, for a friend, for the school library, and keep shouting about it to anyone who will listen. I hope that this book earns the recognition that it deserves.
Admittedly, despite Macy's well written text and powerful words, I had to read this story through several times because for the first one or two read throughs I was so caught up in Collin's illustrations. Initially, I was just trying to imagine what it would be like to wear the kinds of clothes they had to wear in those days. The long sleeve tunics and bloomers not to mention the shoes. His attention to details fully enhances the text and captures the reader.
Skip over the next part if you don't want to be spoiled (well we all know how the game ends...it was played after all in 1896), but this ending text very much sums up the book beautifully:
"Victory is ours! We laugh and hug one another, beside
ourselves with joy. We even give a cheer for the other team,
and they for us. What a sight we all are! Our hair is messy.
Our bloomers are torn. Our faces are streaked with sweat.
This might not be what my mother had in mind when she sent
me to Stanford to become a lady. But I think that a lady can be
tough and strong as well as refind and polite. She can even
play basketball." - Sue Macy, Basketball Belles
As I mentioned earlier, this is a "Wow! Oh, Wow!" book for me. I bought a copy for me, for a friend, for the school library, and keep shouting about it to anyone who will listen. I hope that this book earns the recognition that it deserves.
By Lisa
Format:Hardcover
Great concept, but I thought the execution was bland. This book tells the story of the first college women's basketball game. The illustrations are well done, in a realistic style with convincing facial expressions showing the determination of the players. But the text is a bit dry, and there's a bit too much of it. It felt to me as though the author couldn't quite decide whether she was writing for 1st graders or 5th graders. Not bad, just not one of my favorites.
(Note: I received a free advance reading copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association Annual Conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Holiday House!)
(Note: I received a free advance reading copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association Annual Conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Holiday House!)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
