Illustrated Children's book that encourages putting down the video game controller and becoming more active.
Tommy is the best basketball player when playing his video games. He wins every time!
However, when his mother tells him to go outside and play he finds that playing with the real basketball doesn't come so easy for him. He can't dribble, pass or even shoot! To make matters worse the neighborhood kids laugh at his attempts.
He decides to give up and only play video games, until his mother challenges him to keep practicing. Before long, he finds himself improving and on his way to becoming the best basketball player ever!
Professional Reviews
Review from Midwest Book Review
"The Best Basketball Player EVER" is an inspiring story to share with children ages 4-8, with special appeal and interest for mothers and sons. Tommy Parker is a hero and an everyboy figure, for he loves being the best basketball player ever on video games more than really playing with a basketball. When his mother tries to nudge him towards more outdoor activities, he discovers that really playing basketball can be tough, demanding lots of practice and work. Discouraged and mocked by his peers, Tommy want to give up on real basket ball and just play video games, but his mother won't give up on him. She inspires him by helping him remember that he was not always a great video game basketball player, that he had to practice to get better at it. Then she amazes Tommy by spending time teaching him good basketball techniques and moves, helping him learn and practice dribbling, passing and shooting until he gets more proficient. "The Best Basketball Player EVER" is sure to strike a chord of recognition in its readership, and also will offer some good suggestions and ideas about how to rise above self doubt and fear of failure and take control of your own athletic or other talent development. Values of hard work, repeated efforts, not giving up when a task is challenging, and believing in yourself and an ability to grow and achieve are all underlined and reinforced. "The Best Basketball Player EVER" as an illustrated action story can help teach beyond male/female stereotype roles and encourage kids to accept themselves while digging deep to do their best.
This second book in Edie's 'Puddle' series is filled with wonderful catchy rhyming poems that have positive nostalgic messages. Her whimsical illustrations carry the poems along on ripples of warm vibrant colours.
