Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara Barber

Illustrated by Darryl Ligasan. 32 p., Lee and Low, 1996.

Allie dreams of being a professional basketball player. Her father gives her a basketball, but when she first tries shooting baskets, kids laugh at her. When she invites friends to play basketball with her, girls say that they don't know how, or suggest jump rope instead, and boys scoff at the idea of playing with a girl, or imply that she needs a ball that's smaller and lighter. Allie doesn't buy any of this. When a girl quotes her brother as saying that basketball is for boys, she tells her that he's wrong, and when a boy says girls shouldn't play basketball, Allie tells about her female cousin who has won trophies in high school basketball. All this time, Allie's practicing, and starts getting baskets. Her friends join in, and her father returns to cheer for her. Allie is positive role model of determination in the face of gender prejudice.

Ages: 5-8
Cultural Context: multicultural