Physical Education

This is the official book of the 2011 All Native Basketball Tournament. These games have been held in Prince Rupert, British Columbia for over 50 years. Since its inception, the Tournament has become an important cultural gathering.

B is For Basketball was created in collaboration with the students and teachers of School District No. 50 on Haida Gwaii. It is a tribute, and it is a labour of love.

Finally, this is also an alphabet book that includes a Foreword by Governor General Award-Winning Artist Robert Davidson, and is filled with captivating illustrations, which is sure to be enjoyed by all!

B is For Basketball was recently featured on the CBC's North By Northwest! Congrats to the Students and Teachers of School District #50 (Haida Gwaii), and to Judy!

Educator Information
B is For Basketball was created in collaboration with the students and teachers of School District No. 50 on Haida Gwaii. It is a tribute, and it is a labour of love. 

Additional Information
Foreward by Robert Davidson (Haida)

On a Maine summer day in 1884, twelve-year-old Penobscot Indian Louis Sockalexis first fell in love with baseball. As he grew up, Louis honed his skills and dreamed of one day joining a major league team.

Louis encountered opposition at every turn—from the jeers of teammates and the taunts of spectators who thought he had no place in a "white man's sport" to the disapproval of his father, who wanted Louis to focus on tribal life. Louis finally made it to the major league Cleveland Spiders, but racism followed him, until one momentous day in June 1897 at New York's Polo Grounds. Facing off against the most feared pitcher in baseball, Louis proved he belonged in the sport.

Here is the inspiring story of a boy who dared to make his dream a reality. With determination, courage, and quiet dignity, Louis Sockalexis smashed racial barriers and home runs, leaving an indelible mark on America's favorite sport.

Educator Information
Guided Reading: Q
Lexile: AD920L
Interest Level: Grades 1 - 5
Reading Level: Grades 2 - 4

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.50" x 8.25"

Gaylord Powless was playing lacrosse by the age of three. He descended from generations of Mohawk lacrosse players and possessed great skill, but his native ancestry made him the target of brutal checking, and slashing. This is a compelling story of how this champion learned to deal with emotions.

Ideal for reluctant readers.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended Ages: 12-18.

Fry Reading Level: 4.5

This book is part of the Recordbooks Series. Recordbooks help reluctant readers understand social issues through the lens of a true story of a sports hero.

Series features:

• Ideal for reluctant readers
• Hi-lo
• Short chapters, easy-to-read format
• Great for ESL and adult students
• Writing with a flair for making history feel like novels
• Accompanied by historical photos and sports trivia
• Ideal for ages 12+

Additional Information
120 pages | 4.25" x 7.00"

Native American Games and Stories, written by Joseph Bruchac, a well-known Native American writer and storyteller, and his son, James Bruchac, also a writer and storyteller, provides a look at some of the games played by different Native American peoples, along with related stories and legends. This combination of authors is excellent and has resulted in an extremely well-written and well put together book.

The book is broken into sections based on the type of games (ball games, games of chance, etc.). Each section gives a brief overview of that type of game, followed by one or more related stories. The final part of each section presents the instructions for two to five games. The structure of the book works well as it not only introduces the different types of games, but it also allows the reader to see how the games are presented in Native American stories and culture.

Each specific game is presented with well-written instructions. An overview of the game and how it is played are then followed by the suggested rules, how to score the game and any equipment that is needed. The sections are clearly indicated, which makes it easy to quickly look up information on that game. The only problem in the presentation of the games is a lack of any suggested ages for the players. Although some games, like Stickball, include a note about a modified version for younger players, there are no guidelines for what ages that could be playing the games. As a result, anyone wanting to play one of the games should read the instructions very carefully to ensure that the game is age-appropriate.

Native American Games and Stories is a great resource about some of the games played by different Native American tribes, as well as the role that these games have played in Native American culture. This book would be good for many different types of readers, including as a resource for teachers.