36 Best Basketball Books for Kids of All Ages

My First Basketball Book by Sterling Children’s
Photographs plus one word like “defend” and “jump shot” show kids what the game is all about.

Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan & Roslyn M. Jordan, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Mike wants to grow taller so he’ll be better at basketball. His mom tells him to put salt in his shoes and say a prayer every night. But his father also tells young Michael that it also takes hard work and patience. It’s an optimistic, growth mindset perspective.

Above the Rim How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison
Elgin grew up during segregation which dictated where he was allowed to play basketball and attend college.  But even traveling with his NBA basketball team, he was often turned away. Eglin decided to protest the discrimination by sitting out of future basketball games. His activist actions made a difference. The NBA stated that they would not give their business to hotels and restaurants that discriminated against Black people.

STAT: Standing Tall and Talented: Home Court by Amar’e Stoudemir, illustrated by Tim Jessell
Based on the real story of Amar’e Stoudemire’s life, he writes about when he was 11. He was a skateboarder, a basketball player, and a worker with his dad’s landscape company. When some other kids start trash-talking his friends, Amar’e uses his intelligence and basketball skills to find a solution.

Power Forward by Hena Khan
Filled with Urdu and Pakistani culture, this is a short beginning chapter book about a boy who loves basketball. Unfortunately, he skips violin lessons and lies to his parents in order to go to extra basketball practices. Zayd learns some hard lessons both about honesty and communication with his family, which in the end, makes his life better. A darling basketball book for kids who are growing as readers.

Little Shaq Takes a Chance by Shaquille O’Neal
Trying new things isn’t what Little Shaq wants to do. Only when he does he learns that they can be fun.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Because this is written in verse, this is a fast read but packs a big punch, especially for boys. Basketball player and twin Josh narrates his life in quarters, just like the game he plays. He writes about missing his twin when his twin, Jordan, gets a girlfriend; about getting in trouble when he hits Jordan in the face with a basketball; and about watching his father as his heart fails. This is a coming-of-age, gripping story about a middle school boy who is just trying to figure out life.

Rebound by Kwame Alexander
Alexander’s latest slice-of-life / coming-of-age novel in verse is set in the 80s and is about the dad of the boys in his book, The Crossover. Engulfed in grief over his father’s recent death, his mom sends Charlie (soon to be Chuck) to his grandparents’ house for the summer. There, his cousin, Roxie, gets Chuck interested in basketball. He’s not so good at first, but Chuck seems to have a natural ability. And something about basketball helps him grieve and heal; so does spending time with his grandparents. Chuck makes a big mistake that gets him sent home early– but I love seeing his family’s example of boundaries plus unconditional love.

Hoops by Matt Tavares
Judi is growing up in the 1970s. She loves playing basketball so she’s excited when her school starts a girls’ basketball team. Unfortunately, they’re not treated the same as the boy’s team. The girls make their own uniforms, practice at 7 pm, and don’t get a bus to away games. After the girls push through and keep playing to victory, they change the mind of the high school athletic director. It’s an atmospheric story that shows the struggles for gender equality in sports.

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros 
Neighbors and best friends Marco and Issac head to middle school where their differences — one is short and academic, the other is tall and sporty, don’t affect their loyalty to each other. They also have in common absent dads except at least Issac’s dad wants to be part of Issac’s life — if he’s not drinking. In the end, a high-stakes basketball game and a bad car accident show these friends, and their teammates, that friendship matters most of all.

Travel Team by Mike Lupica
When Danny gets cut unfairly from his local travel team, Danny’s former basketball-playing dad organizes a new team for his son and other cut players. Unfortunately, just as their team makes it to the playoffs, Danny’s dad gets into a car accident. In a story about resiliency and determination, will Danny and his team be able to go on?

Training Camp (The Wizenard Series) by Wesley King, created by Kobe Bryant
You will be amazed at how cool it is to read a story about basketball and MAGIC showing the transformative power of a good coach. The West Bottom Badgers come from a poor neighborhood and aren’t any good, plus each teammate has secret challenges and fears that are slowly revealed. Fortunately, when Professor Wizenard arrives, everything changes.

Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun
Exceptional! Korean American Pippa is a great basketball player but her guardian older sister won’t let her play unless her grades improve. Then she gets a scholarship to attend a prestigious private school and Pippa uses the new school to reinvent herself, hiding her background from the popular kids. In a satisfying ending with valuable life lessons, Pippa decides to not be ashamed of her working-class family, her culture, or her friends. Girl readers, in particular, will be able to relate to the social hierarchy of middle school and the temptation to change yourself to suit others.

Basketball Camp Champ (Jake Maddox Graphic Novels) by Jake Maddox, illustrated by Berenice Muniz
Ana’s excited to go to a basketball summer camp. But she’s confused when the coach asks them to do “zone defense” and she starts to doubt her skills. She’ll have to ask for help to make the most of this unique camp.

Elle of the Ball by Elena Delle Donne
Elle is a 6-foot-tall 7th grader. So her basketball team expects a lot from her. But just as she’s learning her new position of center, she’s also worried about her ballroom dance class, where she’s partnered with a short boy.

Nicki on the Line by Barbara Carrol Roberts
Nikki’s thrilled when she makes it onto an elite-level club team but she’s no longer the best girl on the team or a point guard. To make matters more complicated, she’s having friend troubles, has to babysit her younger brother after school, and doesn’t know how to complete an impossible family tree assignment. Her confidence drops a bit until she decides to take a risk and reinvent herself.

True Legend by Mike Lupica
Drew’s ego is growing as he masters the court, but so are his troubles. But a chance meeting with a former playground legend opens Drew’s eyes to a different path.

YA Basketball Books

The Everything Kids’ Basketball Book by Bob Schaller with Coach Dave Harnish
Read the basics of the game and the history, then dive into the great players and coaches of the game. Filled with information, activities, and more — this is quite an amazing resource book that will fascinate your kids.