Elem. – Baller Ina

Casal, Liz. Baller Ina. Alfred A. Knopf. 2023. 978-0-593-56709-8. $18.99. Grades K-2

Swish! Ina loves ballet! She loves her sparkly pink tutu, her leaps, and her pirouettes. She also loves to play basketball. She loves to dribble, be a guard, and wear her shorts over her leotard. Despite some negative cheers that can be heard, Ina is confident and knows that no matter what she does, she is a superstar!

THOUGHTS: A fantastic story of being whatever you want to be! You can dance and play basketball and be fantastic at both!

Picture Book

MG – Black Americans of Distinction (Series NF)

Black Americans of Distinction. Reference Point Press, 2023. $32.95 ea. $164.75 Set of 5. 64 p. Grades 6-8.

Allen, John. Important Black Americans in Sports. 978-1-6782-0290-3.
Castilo, Kristina. Important Black Americans in Business and Commerce. ​​978-1-6782-0284-2.
Currie, Stephen. Important Black Americans in Civil Rights and Politics. 978-1-6782-0286-6.
Kallen, Stuart.  Important Black Americans in Arts and Culture. 978-1-6782-0282-8.
Nardo, Don. Important Black Americans in Science and Invention. 978-1-6782-0288-0.

Judging from the sequence of chapters in two of the books, the authors present information in chronological order with in-depth explanation of the history and distinguished professionals attached to these fields. Interesting textboxes highlight special events or pertinent people. This series is an updated, worthy series focusing on well-known and lesser-known Black Americans. Includes Other Sources and index.

THOUGHTS: I read the Business and Commerce and Sports titles and found valuable information suitable for the middle-grade researcher.

Elem./MG – Inside MLB (Series NF)

Inside MLB. Abdo Publishing, 2023. $23.95 ea. $1718.50 set of 30. 48 p. Grades 3-8. 

Donnelly, Patrick. Arizona Diamondbacks. 978-1-098-29008-5.
—. Atlanta Braves. 978-1-098-29009-2.
Giedd, Steph. Baltimore Orioles. 978-1-098-29010-8.
Clarke, David J. Boston Red Sox. 978-1-098-29011-5.
Hewson, Anthony K. Chicago Cubs. 978-1-098-29012-2.
Carl, Douglas. Chicago White Sox. 978-1-098-29013-9.
Hewson, Anthony K. Cincinnati Reds. 978-1-098-29014-6.
—. Cleveland Guardians. 978-1-098-29015-3.
—. Colorado Rockies. 978-1-098-29016-0.
Donnelly, Patrick. Detroit Tigers. 978-1-098-29017-7.
Hewson, Anthony K.
Houston Astros. 978-1-098-29018-4.
Clarke, David J. Kansas City Royals. 978-1-098-29019-1.
Donnelly, Patrick. Los Angeles Angels. 978-1-098-29020-7.
Hewson, Anthony K . Los Angeles Dodgers. 978-1-098-29021-4.
Donnelly, Patrick. Miami Marlins. 978-1-098-29022-1.
Clarke, David J. Milwaukee Brewers. 978-1-098-29023-8.
—. Minnesota Twins. 978-1-098-29024-5.
—. New York Mets. 978-1-098-29025-2.
Hewson, Anthony K. New York Yankees. 978-1-098-29026-9.
—. Oakland Athletics. 978-1-098-29027-6.
—. Philadelphia Phillies. 978-1-098-29028-3.
Donnelly, Patrick. Pittsburgh Pirates. 978-1-098-29029-0.
Kortemeier, Todd. San Diego Padres. 978-1-098-29030-6.
Carl, Douglas. San Francisco Giants. 978-1-098-29031-3.
Hewson, Anthony K. Seattle Mariners. 978-1-098-29032-0.
Donnelly, Patrick. St. Louis Cardinals. 978-1-098-29033-7.
Hanlon, Luke. Tampa Bay Rays. 978-1-098-29034-4.
Donnelly, Patrick. Texas Rangers. 978-1-098-29035-1.
—. Toronto Blue Jays. 978-1-098-29036-8.
Hewson, Anthony K. Washington Nationals. 978-1-098-29037-5.

The focus of the 30-book nonfiction series introduces sports and baseball fans to the history of each of the MLB franchises. Each book has engaging images along with an informative text that will appeal to students. The book concludes with a glossary, trivia, team facts, timeline, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance upper elementary and middle school library collections seeking to update their MLB section of the library.

796.357 Baseball

MG – Duel

Bagley, Jessixa. Duel. Illustrated by Aaron Bagley. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-534-49655-2. 307 p. $24.99. Grades 4-8.

Two sisters duel out their feelings about each other—literally. Sixth grader Lucy and eighth grader Gigi have a complicated relationship. Their father recently passed away from an unnamed illness, and their mother works all of the time at the local hospital. The sisters’ relationship has gone sour since their father’s death, and both sisters take turns being mean-spirited toward the other. Gigi is on track to be captain of the middle school fencing team, something her father—who had been a fencing instructor himself—would have been proud of. Lucy is determined to beat her older sister, even if it means having to learn to fence secretly in just a few weeks’ time. The sisters must decide if they will end the story by dueling in front of their classmates or by finally discussing their feelings of grief with each other and their mother.

THOUGHTS: While many other books highlight problems between friends or classmates, this is a realistic and fresh look at a struggling sibling relationship. Both sisters can be unlikable at times due to their mean-spirited behaviors; that characteristic only adds to the realism. The unique ways in which people deal with grief are also fully explored in this book through other family characters including the girls’ mother and grandmother. Aside from being a powerful story about grief and familial relationships, this is also a sports story that includes a diverse cast of characters. The author’s note includes that part of Jessixa Bagley’s inspiration for Duel was to share a story about Black female fencers. Recommended as a meaningful story for middle school graphic novel collections. Fans of Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, and Victoria Jamieson will also love Duel.

Graphic Novel

Elem. – Inside Big Events (Series NF)

Kortemeier, Todd, and Josh Anderson. Inside Big Events. The Child’s World, 2023. $24.95 ea. $149.70 set of 6. 31 p. Grades 3-6. 

Inside the Daytona 500: 978-1-503-86515-0.
Inside the NBA. 978-1-503-86517-4.
Inside the Olympics. 978-1-503-86518-1.
Inside the Super Bowl. 978-1-503-86519-8.
Inside the World Cup. 978-1-503-86516-7.
Inside the World Series. 978-1-503-86520-4.

Professional sporting events are a popular topic for many students. The Child’s World has selected six major sporting events and given a basic overview of some of the star athletes, some of the biggest moments in the event, and fast facts. Full-color and historical photographs add a strong interest for all readers. There are critical-thinking questions to help readers deepen their understanding. The book concludes with a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance elementary library collections seeking to refresh their sports section.

700s Sports and Recreation

MG – Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper

Sprangler, Brie. Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper. Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. 978-0-593-42849-8. 248 p. $21.99. Grades 4-8.

Gemma Hopper is trying to keep her life running smoothly, but that is not easy since her mother left. Gemma is in charge of all the household chores as well as looking out for her younger twin brothers while her father works several jobs to make ends meet. Her older brother, Teddy, is a baseball sensation and will be leaving soon to join a baseball league in Florida. It seems as though everyone has forgotten that Gemma also has a love for the sport, and in fact, she is quite talented. She feels overshadowed by her brother. Will baseball be the thing that saves her and her family, or will it destroy everything?

THOUGHTS: This is such a great graphic novel with a focus on family, friendship, and hope. Middle grade students will be drawn to this book.

Graphic Novel

MG/YA – Hoops

Tavares, Matt. Hoops. Candlewick Press. 2023. 978-1-5362-3195-3. 224 pp. $12.99. Grades 4+.

It’s 1970 in Wilkins, Indiana, and Judi Wilson longs to play basketball instead of cheering from the bleachers. Five years later, she’s a cheerleading senior in high school when she hears an announcement that Wilkins Regional High School is going to have a girls’ basketball team! With only eight girls going out for the team, everyone makes the cut. However, the girls don’t have real uniforms, buses to away games, meal money, or equal access to the high school gym. Judi and her teammates present their demands to the Athletic Director, but they face an uphill battle. With some grassroots publicity and the dedicated support of Coach Montez (plus electrical tape for putting numbers on their t-shirts), the “Lady Bears” make it all the way to Indiana’s first-ever girls’ basketball state championship! Do they have what it takes to bring home the trophy? Hoops was inspired by the true story of the 1976 Warsaw High School girls’ basketball team (read the Author’s Note for more details). Matt Tavares’ gentle, retro color palette of brick red, olive green, and turquoise (and orange basketballs, of course!) perfectly situates this story in a particular time and place: Indiana in 1976. It’s full-to-bursting with heart and exciting moments on the court. 

THOUGHTS: Hoops is a stand-out all-ages read with connections to Women’s History Month, March Madness, Title IX, and more!

Graphic Novel    

Elem./MG – Sports Encyclopedias for Kids (Series NF)

Sports Encyclopedias for Kids. Abdo Reference, 2022. $33.00 ea. $132.00 set of 4. Grades 3-8.

Flynn, Brendan. The MLB Encyclopedia. 978-1-532-19690-4.
—. The NBA
Encyclopedia. 978-1-532-19691-1.

—. The NFL Encyclopedia. 978-1-532-19692-8.
McDougall, Chros. The Olympics Encyclopedia. 978-1-532-19693-5.

Following a brief history of the sport, this compact volume packs a comprehensive list of top-ranking basketball players with critical statistics. The format lists the major teams with their greatest players and text features with highlights from that team. Vivid action photographs are spread throughout the readable expository writing. Includes honorable mentions list, all-time top scorers sorted by type of play, glossary, and index. This attractive book appeals to many readers who follow sports.

THOUGHTS: I am no expert on sports, but I do know that when students spy this book on my desk, they perk up and want to know when it will be available for check-out. Fun way to introduce students to lists and using the index to find interesting facts.

796 Sports          Bernadette Cooke, School District of Philadelphia

Elem. – Olympics Stars (Series NF)

Olympics Stars Set 3. Abdo, 2022. $22.95 ea. $45.90 set of 2. 32 p. Grades 2-5.

Hewson, Anthony K. Simone Biles. 978-1-532-19739-0.
Martinson, Morgan. Suni Lee. 978-1-532-19740-6.

The first chapter of Suni Lee, “All Around Champ,” launches readers into Suni Lee’s first event–the vault–in the women’s all-around competition at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and documents each event from that moment. The second chapter flashes back to Suni’s childhood in Minnesota with information on her family’s Hmong roots as well as her early years in Gymnastics. Moving forward, the third chapter, documenting Suni Lee’s rise to stardom, shares how her dad was injured helping a neighbor right before her debut at her first senior national championships. Chapter four returns to the Olympics and the response of her community after her historic win. Includes a timeline, glossary, and index.

THOUGHTS: Suni Lee is a well-organized and approachable biography. Each page has photos that complement the text, keeps the reader reading, and encourages browsers to delve into the text as they flip through the book. In particular, Suni’s story of strength under pressure and overcoming challenges will be inspiring to young readers and gymnastics fans. This book and the series are recommended for any library looking for biographies on their subjects.

796 Sports          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

YA – Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice

Smith, Tommie, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile. Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice. Norton Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-324-00390-8 . 208 p. $22.95. Grades 8-12.

In graphic format Tommie Smith shares the story of how he came to stand on the podium during the medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics as the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint. Together with bronze medalist John Carlos, Smith stood wearing black socks, and the two raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustices. But long before that pivotal moment, Smith came from a hardworking family of sharecroppers in rural Texas. Seeing their children’s education as an opportunity for a better life, Smith’s parents moved the family and Smith’s speed eventually was noticed, giving him more opportunities than they could have imagined possible. Smith attended schools that were being desegregated and a predominantly white college, facing many life-changing obstacles that shaped him into the activist he became.

THOUGHTS: Showing how great platforms come with great responsibilities, this graphic memoir deserves a place in secondary libraries looking to update their sports and/or nonfiction graphic novel collections.

Graphic Memoir          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD
796.42 Track & Field