The NBA Finals, pro basketball's crown jewel series, begins this week. Among the participants is Miami Heat superstar LeBron James. One of the best known athletes in the country, "King James" is certain to draw interest from young readers passionate about basketball. One way for librarians to encourage young fans to read about these sports celebrities is to display age-appropriate biographies of these international stars.
Enslow Publishers' LeBron James: A Basketball Star Who Cares fits this profile. The 48-page, Guided Reading Level "O" title offers insights into James' life and career. Notably, author Kimberly Gatto's age-appropriate text includes a section on the player's philanthropic endeavors. By going outside the basketball arena, Gatto gives young readers a useful, humanizing perspective about star athletes' lives. This enriching dimension to the book makes it a solid addition to a library's sports biography collection, as well as a book parents would feel comfortable giving to their child.
LeBron James: A Basketball Star Who Cares, part of Enslow's six-book "Sports Stars Who Care" series, is available in paperback for $7.95. It is also in a library-bound edition for $17.95. That price reflects a 25% discount available to school and library customers.