Picture book, 32 pages. In 1891 James Naismith took over a gym class after the students' unruly behavior forced the previous two teachers to quit. He invented basketball to keep the young men engaged in something new and exciting. Published in 2013 by Carolrhoda Books.
Discouraged, but brilliant gym teacher
Gym teachers are often a child's hero, but imagine if your gym teacher invented a new game which became so popular it became an Olympic sport!?! After injuries and mayhem from indoor football, indoor soccer and indoor lacrosse, Naismith's drafted 13 rules for a new game where accuracy was more important than force. And the original goals were intended to be square boxes nailed up high, but the school janitor had only peach baskets available: thus, the name Basketball.
While Naismith was not an athlete, he was honored at the 1936 Olympic Opening Ceremonies for creating basketball. THE Hero of Basketball
Athletes are some of the most celebrated heroes and heroines in our culture, but I thought we would start out reading about a gym teacher who is THE hero of basketball: the game would not exist without James Naismith!
Check out two more Naismith biographies for kids:
And for the adults who love the game! James Naismith: The Man Who Invented Basketball The James Naismith Reader: Basketball in His Own Words Comments are closed.
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