Basketball Legends: Ben Simmons by Kit Cross and Leigh Hedstrom (Albert Street Books, Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN: 9781761181276
Reviewed by Kellie Nissen
Think you know a lot about basketball? Basketball Legends: Ben
Simmons might have you thinking again. Not only is it jam-packed full of
intriguing information about Australian basketball legend, Ben Simmons, but every
fact and statistic you’d want to know about the sport in general is contained
within a mere 123 pages.
For example, do you know what a double-double is? Or, for that matter,
what a triple-double is?
And do you know where the Philadelphia 76ers got their name?
Perhaps – from the title – you can guess who was the first Australian to
not only win Rookie of the Year in the NBA, but also receive an All-Star
selection?
But, do you know which city has produced the most NBA Number 1 Draft
Picks in the world?
No? You’ll need to get yourself a copy of this book then.
Fascinating facts and stats aside, author Kit Cross has done an amazing
job of researching information that will really resonate with her audience and
presenting it in a way that is accessible to younger readers – but she does not
dumb things down. Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations and the layout go a long way
to supplementing the information, making the facts stand out and shine.
Full disclosure – prior to picking up this book, I knew a little about
basketball (being a fan of the Canberra Cannons back in the day and, more
recently, the UC Capitals), but I’d never heard of Ben Simmons! (Sssh – don’t
tell anyone.) Moreover, I wondered whether the information in the book would be
engaging enough to hold my interest.
I was pleasantly surprised. The blend of general sport facts and a
closer and more personal look at one of the many legendary players means that
the book is likely to resonate with a wider audience. Despite my initial
hesitancy, I found that I devoured the facts in a very short time and was
pleased to discover that there are at least three more books in this series by
Kit Cross and Leigh Hedstrom – something for everyone with different sports
represented, along with both male and female legends.
If you or your child are basketball fans, you’ll love Basketball
Legends: Ben Simmons. If not, you will be by the time you’ve finished this
easy but fascinating read. You may even be encouraged to head out and watch a
game or sink some hoops. At the very least, you will be a walking factsheet
about all things Ben Simmons and basketball.
Designed for independent readers aged 6–10, Basketball Legends: Ben
Simmons is sure to be enjoyed by fans of all ages and is an excellent
introduction to the world of factual texts. Readers may decide to read the book
from cover to cover, or just dip in and out at will, and I fully expect to see some
of these facts turn up at school trivia nights.
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