New Picture Book Tells the Fascinating, True Story of the Inspiration and Invention of Basketball

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball—written by John Coy, illustrated by Joe Morse, and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group—invites readers to witness a genius in action. In 1891, one brave teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts takes on an exceptionally daunting task.

Accepting responsibility for a rowdy gym class is not something James Naismith wants to do at all. The last two teachers of this class quit in frustration. The students—a bunch of energetic young men—are bored with all the regular activities. Naismith needs something new, exciting, and fast to keep the class happy—or someone's going to get hurt. Saving this class will require a genius plan.

With its enthralling nonfiction narrative and rich illustrations, Hoop Genius captures the energy of basketball and creatively unfolds the story of Naismith’s moment of inspiration that led to one of the world’s most popular sports.

Visit www.lernerbooks.com for free downloads.

About the Author
John Coy is the author of many award-winning books, including Night Driving, Strong to the Hoop, and the popular 4 for 4 middle-grade series. To complete his research on James Naismith, he travelled to Almonte, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and basketball courts around the world. John lives in Minneapolis and visits schools nationally and internationally.

About the Illustrator
Joe Morse's images have been commissioned by clients worldwide, including Major League Baseball, Nike Europe, Universal Pictures, and Coca-Cola. His artwork has graced the pages of major magazines and newspapers including Rolling Stone, The Times of London, Fortune, GQ, the New York Times, and the LA Times. His art is in numerous collections, including the private collection of filmmaker Spike Lee.

About the Publisher
Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, creates high-quality fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults. For more information, visit www.lernerbooks.com or call 800-328-4929.

PUBLICATION DATE:
March 2013
$16.95 Hardcover, Jacketed
$12.95 eBook
Ages 7-11
HC: 978-0-7613-6617-1
EB: 978-0-7613-8723-7
32 Pages ● 9 ¼ x 11

To Purchase: Visit your local bookstore , order by phone at 800-328-4929, or visit us online at www.lernerbooks.com.

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