No Image Available

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball

 Author: Jen Bryant  Category: Biographies and Non-Fiction, Black History, Civil Rights, Elementary School, Prejudice and Racism, Preschool, Sports  Reading Age: Elementary School, Preschool  Language: English  Illustrator: Frank Morrison  Amazon  Bookshop org
 Description:

Winner of the 2021 Orbis Pictus Award, Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball is a picture book biography of the basketball legend from award-winning creators Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison.

“A new generation of fans will be introduced to the legendary basketball player Elgin Baylor. . . . A timely read about an NBA player who spoke out against Jim Crow injustice.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Inspirational and timely.” —School Library Journal

Before there was Michael Jordan or LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo, there was Elgin Baylor, shooting, passing, and soaring through the air like no basketball player before him. Here is the story of the basketball icon and African American civil rights advocate, told with beautiful artwork and poetic text:

“In one smooth move,
like a plane taking off,
he would leap . . .
higher and higher
and higher—
as if pulled by some invisible wire,
and just when it seemed
he’d have to come down,
no!”

Hall-of-famer Baylor was one of basketball’s greatest players—an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. One of the first professional African American players, he inspired others on and off the court. But when traveling for away games, many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was Black.

One night, Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press, the public, and the NBA. With lyrical, moving text from an award-winning author and exquisite, slam-dunk illustrations from an award-winning artist, Above the Rim is a peek into the early days of the NBA, a poetic telling of the life of an under-recognized African American athlete, and a celebration of standing up for what’s right.

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball
Written by Jen Bryant
Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Source: Publisher (ABRAMS)

Other Books From - Biographies and Non-Fiction

About the author


 Back

The site contains affiliate links from Amazon.com and Bookshop.org. If you make a purchase after clicking the links, the website will earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Recent Comments

Scroll to Top