  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 07/01/2019 In this visually arresting offering, a Black boy finds courage to join other children playing in an urban landscape. His shadow gets the ball rolling by bursting onto the scene, basketball in hand, enthusiastically announcing, “It’s game day!” However, the boy doesn’t show the same confidence—yet. At the edge of the concrete court, the boy watches kids gather for a game, while the shadow demands the boy show him his game face—a sweetly funny sequence of trial and error, progressing from smile to smirk. Next, he shows off his moves, finally gaining the confidence to declare, “I got next!” and enter the court. Illustrations using black ink, gouache, watercolors, and digital techniques form dynamic scenes that blend with the story’s rhythmic text. Endpapers resembling murals seen in most urban areas include common images of significant African Americans such as Michelle Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston, affording librarians, teachers, and parents a great opportunity to add further historical or cultural context to this tale of perseverance and community. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. School Library Journal - 08/01/2019 PreS-Gr 3—As a young black boy prepares for a basketball game, his shadow encourages him to put his game face on. This figure accompanies and inspires the boy as he practices various basketball techniques. This book's illustrations wonderfully capture an urban setting with a variety of gray, navy, and pastel hues. Watercolors are used to add a beautiful and soft touch to the cityscape. The boy's realistic expressions capture his dedication and focus. Throughout the book, his game face becomes a central focal point for readers. The text appears to follow the boy as he dribbles a basketball; it cleverly captures the sense of movement and energy of the illustrations, echoing the play-by-play and reflecting patterns of dialogue often used by sport players completely immersed in a highly energetic game. Basketball terminology is seamlessly woven into this story by combining them with the boy's demonstration of various techniques. The rhythmic narrative has a soothing flow, making it ideal for read alouds. VERDICT This book will encourage children to work hard at whatever they wish to achieve and to never give up, both on the court and beyond. Highly recommended.—Deanna Smith, Pender County Public Library, NC - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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