The Man Who Invented Basketball: James Naismith and His Amazing Game (Genius at Work! Great Inventor Biographies)

Profiles the Canadian minister whose love for sports led him to create a new one, called "basketball."

Grade 4–6—Well executed, with a combination of easy-to-read text, original sources, and background on both the person and the invention, each of these books begins with an anecdote establishing the determination or original thought that helped the subject succeed. The portrayal of the path from idea to execution is excellent, covering subjects such as patent lawsuits, grant proposals, and others who helped develop the product. Also included are some hard-to-find facts, such as the names of the playground game that inspired basketball and of Farnsworth's teacher. These biographies are interesting enough to read for personal interest as well as well as for reports.—Sharon R. Pearce, Longfellow Elementary School, Oak Park, IL
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Vetted by its subject's great-granddaughter, this entry in the Genius at Work! Great Inventor Biographies series introduces the man behind one of today's most high-profile sports. Although many U.S. children regard basketball as quintessentially American, Naismith was actually a Canada native. Readers may find it equally surprising that religious ideals were part of the sport's genesis. A minister interested in serving youth, Naismith moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, to work for the YMCA, where the game grew out of an assignment to develop an indoor, cold-weather activity. The connection between physical and spiritual fitness, a strong theme in Naismith's life, isn't spelled out clearly enough here, but young hoops devotees will enjoy the details of a favorite sport's infancy, particularly the peach cartons that originally served as baskets. Crisp photos, illustrations, and a sidebar featuring Naismith's original 13 rules break up the accessible text, which concludes with a time line, a glossary, and a list of related books and Web sites. Mattson, Jennifer