Basketball ABC: The NBA Alphabet - Hardcover

Following on the heels of Baseball ABC (1994), another attractive, eye-catching introduction to the world of sports from Mayers, with the cooperation of the NBA. Crisp, full-color photographs illustrate each letter of the alphabet: Basketball greats appear under L for Legends, and Michael Jordan defies gravity under J for Jumpshot. Dream Team and dunk fall under D and d, respectively. Other attention-grabbers are the pairing of Gheorghe Muresan at 7'7" and Muggsy Bogues at 5'4" under H for Height and the juxtaposition of the average man's size 10 sneaker with Shaquille O'Neal's size 22, under S for Shoe. The author presents pertinent, funny factoids in a nontechnical, highly visual presentation, from quirky quotes by Woody Allen and Moses Malone to recognition of Dr. James Naismith, the man who invented the game with two peach baskets nailed to the balcony of a gym. Close-ups, aerial angles, and tilted perspectives are all part of the slick design and provide onlookers and ABC-learners with a courtside view of the kinetic, high-action sport. The compositions will attract sports fans and make page-turners out of those who normally just spectate. (Picture book. 4-10) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.