Hardcourt, the sweet spot of making kids want to read with art and sports

“Do you know Trae Young?” I get that a lot at school. And no, elementary school students- a person with an uncommon first name does not necessarily know all other people with that same name. However, the fact that most any kid in an elementary school knows that sports figure speaks leagues about the popularity of the NBA. Hardcourt is by Fred Bowen with illustrations by James E. Ransome. They’re the same duo that produced Gridiron, an oversized book that’s this one’s sibling in the best of all possible ways.

Another question that comes across when slightly older readers are looking at Hardcourt is “which came first?”.  And by that, they are probably inferring in their inner-elementary school critic is, the illustrations or the text. They complement each other as well as peanut butter and chocolate or cat videos and the internet. Older readers will marvel at the illustrations by Ransome, the way they dominate their full pages with emotion, action, and art that makes kids want to know the rest of the story. Some illustrations are basketball-oriented action from the early stars of the game, the street scene from New York City, managers who wheeled and dealed in order to build dynasties, as well as those players and games that today’s elementary school readers will know.

Hardcourt is an illustrated love letter to The National Basketball Association and its 75 anniversary. Had this book been published in 2047 for the 100th anniversary, then it’s possible that my basketball doppelganger, in name only, would have a page or blurb on Mr. Young. If that’s the case then it’ll be easy to look up because there’s an index at the end of the book where you can look up teams and the major players. A cursory glance at this index says that the Los Angeles Lakers, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and the Philadelphia 76ers are leading the rundown here.

The book dances between an engaging story and history with ease. Author Fred Bowen has a way of making the storylines that naturally exist in the physical action of sports, and translating it into written words that readers of any knowledge or interest level will find engaging. The Dream Team is a great example of that. Today’s upper elementary school readers might not know about how professional athletes weren’t allowed to compete in the Olympics prior to 1988.

It was just after that when the rules changed and the professional basketballers could join the Olympic fun, and join it they did. The 1992 United States Summer Olympics team had a who’s who of professional basketball. Their roster was amazing and the fact that some younger NBA fans today might not know this story will make their growing minds spin with the possibilities of seeing Michael Jordan and almost a dozen others playing on the same team.

Moreover, this tale is told in a way that most fourth-graders and all fifth graders should be able to read and understand without any assistance. Did you hear about the time that the Dream Team broke up into two smaller teams and played each other? It happened in Monte Carlo and its description is three paragraphs of fun that one only wishes we all had a video of.

Hardcourt is riddled with stories like this one. They provide insight, drama, history, motivation, and heart behind the players and workings of those who engage in the National Basketball Association. Sure, there are outliers who are whiny, entitled adults who aren’t role models and produce stories that younger readers have no business experiencing, but that’s any industry. This book is a positive look at working hard, the spirit of competition, and a guy who simply was put under a deadline to create a new game at a local YMCA. Fast forward 75 years and that peach basket-born game is a worldwide phenomenon that gives GaGa Ball something to aim for in eight or so decades.

Hardcourt, Stories From 75 Years of The National Basketball Association is written by Fred Bowen with illustrations by James E. Ransome and available on Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

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