Hoops with Swoopes

Rhythmic text and full-color action photos of WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes captures the excitement and spirit of the game of basketball, in a nonfiction picture book for young fans. 15,000 first printing.

K-Gr 4-Sheryl Swoopes, WNBA basketball star, is featured in this photo-essay that describes the basics of the game. Unfortunately, it is difficult to discern an audience for this book. CIP classifies it as a biography, but there's little here about her life. Furthermore, the athlete may not have the name recognition with elementary school children that she does with older readers. Nonetheless, words in large and small typeface burst through the pages, contributing to the feel of continuous action. The center section must be turned vertically to get maximum appreciation from the jump shot imposed over the word "JUMP." White space on glossy paper is in abundance, setting off the vivid, full-color photographs of the athlete sporting a variety of outfits. In fact, in one picture, readers see five Swoopes, adding to the confusion of how she is playing the game against herself. Another page mentions that "she plays from right to left," which is technically true, but because she is facing readers, the reverse actually appears on the page. A nonessential purchase for most libraries.

Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Susan Kuklin, who wrote the award-winning Dance with Bill T. Jones, here teams up with the WNBA's recently named MVP, Sheryl Swoopes, in Hoops with Swoopes. Kuklin's soaring photographs of Swoopes and bright, bold typography vibrate on a vast expanse of white space, as the Houston Comet jumps (she extends horizontally across a spread) and looks suitably poker-faced while pulling off a fake. Along with basketball basics, Kuklin and Swoopes deliver a potent message about female strength and self-esteem.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 1-3, younger for reading aloud. Sheryl Swoopes, a member of the Houston Comets, the 2000 WNBA champions and the league's most valuable player, takes center court in this simple, vigorous introduction to basketball. Set against expanses of white, different cutout photos of the vibrantly outfitted Swoopes, ball in hand, give the effect of a player in motion. Brightly colored boxes feature words like catch, shoot, and dribbledribbledribble. Rudimentary instructions and brief insights make up the rest of the text: "her game is passing." In this exhilarating offering, veteran photographer-author Kuklin captures the energy and enthusiasm of women's basketball in general and of Swoopes in particular. Ilene Cooper
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