I'm always on the look-out for interesting reads, which head into sports. Today's read not only takes a peek into the realm of basketball but adds an original twist by centering on the importance of a referee. Anyone who's watched a basketball game has seen the two individuals wearing white and blacked striped shirts. They blow their whistles, make a hand-signal, and everyone on the court knows what they mean. This book dives into those different hand-signals and should teach the reader about each one. I found the twist so unique and interesting, that I had to read this book myself.
Grab those whistles because I bet there's quite a bit to learn!
Raheem's Adventures
by Jawad Tariq
Picture Book
28 pages
ages 4 to 8
Being a basketball referee isn’t quite as easy as it looks. You have to make quick decisions that require swift action. Why would anyone want to be a referee? Raheem does, and he wants you to join him! Breaking the rules is not RIGHT and Raheem wants everyone to play fair. So come along and let's learn how referees enforce the rules of the game. ★ From the author of “Raheem and his Magic Shoes” and “Raheem the Superhero” comes a book about basketball referee signals that teach us about common calls used during a game. ★
MY TIDBITS
The signs and signals of a referee during a basketball game gain clarity in an easy to understand manner.
While basketball players receive the most attention during a game, the referees take a close second. They might not say much, but their whistles draw attention while their hands to the talking. Each sign they make holds a certain meaning, and those are explained in these pages.
After a quick introduction, the main character of this book, Raheem, changes into a referee as his friends launch a game of basketball. During the game, various situations arise (in one large illustration), and then, Raheem signals his call (on the next page). These are very clearly illustrated and, when necessary, include arrows to indicate the direction of the motion. The meaning behind the signal is briefly explained in an easy to understand way. At the end of the book, there's a list of the signals and a small illustration of each one.
This is the first book I've run across, which teaches young readers about the job of a referee. It goes through each signal, one by one, allowing young readers to see the problem clearly happen during a game before Raheem shows the fitting hand-motion to call out the problem. The author has made sure that each one is clear and easy to understand. Plus, the love of the game comes through as well. I do see young sport fans enjoying this quite a bit.
There are two other books in the series, which are worth taking a peek at as well:
1 comment:
Excellent Review!
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