Book review: “Lucy Tries Basketball”
I love how many of our everyday activities can spark an interest in new opportunities. For example, reading and storytelling in our family is an important time to be together, share, and connect.
Since my six-year-old daughter Olivia is currently loving all things to do with basketball, Active for Life asked me to test-drive the latest Lucy book, Lucy Tries Basketball, to see how my little Toronto Raptors fan enjoyed the story.
Lucy Tries Basketball is part of a series of “Lucy Tries” books by author Lisa Bowes, designed to share different sporting opportunities with children, including luge, short track, soccer, and hockey. This newest book is set to launch Sept. 3.
A few pieces from Lucy Tries Basketball stood out for us. Olivia felt that the story should have been called Olivia Tries Basketball, as she’s also learning to play.
Lucy Tries Basketball
Author: Lisa Bowes
Illustrator: James Hearne
Format: Soft-cover picture book
Target audience: 6-8 years
Publisher: Orca Book Publisher
Price: $12.95
She really liked that Jermaine took time to coach the kids about how to play and taught them some basics like dribbling, moving their feet, and shooting. She thought it would be great if it was actually a Raptors player teaching the kids to play, and is hoping that she might get coached by a Raptors player—no expectations or anything there!
Related read: Find a quality basketball program
Olivia also really liked that Lucy took lots of shots and that it was okay she missed, because it gave her an opportunity to try again. When Jermaine took a big shot at the end of the game to win it, it reminded Olivia of the time she sank a similar basket, and noted it was also like Kawhi Leonard’s shot in one of the games we watched.
We both appreciated that Lucy’s friends got to learn with her and play with her, and Olivia thought it was cool that even though Brett was in a wheelchair, the friends could all play together—especially since Olivia has also tried playing wheelchair basketball.
We both liked that once the kids learned from Jermaine how to play, they also got to go to a three-on-three game and see him play. Olivia’s very excited that she’ll get to watch three-on-three basketball in the Tokyo Olympics next summer, and that in the fall we’ll get to watch NBA games again.
Related read: NBA and USA basketball promote multisport approach for kids
Olivia thought that Lucy and her friends were very cool and she looks forward to reading this book again, and to thinking about some of the things that Jermaine taught the kids when she goes out to shoot hoops again tomorrow.
This book will be in our regular rotation of family reading as we nurture the interest in basketball that blossomed this summer. We hope your family enjoys this story as much as we did.
