The Switch

May 31, 2024

Gr 1-3-For basketball fans comes this character-building story of how to be a good teammate on and off the court. Second grader Kibwe is a basketball all-star and is leading his team towards the town championship. His father is a loud supporter from the stands, encouraging Kibwe to "Serve!" while playing. While his plays are amazing, his father sees that Kibwe needs to learn how to "serve" on the sidelines, too. Readers will be able to connect instantly to Kibwe's passion for basketball and learn alongside him when he discovers that being a team player extends beyond the court. The fatherly support is touching and clearly has an impact on Kibwe's personal growth. The artwork is bold and colorful across one spread after another. Elements of the work lend itself as a gentle introduction to graphic novel style, as not all text appears as narrative. Text messages and speech bubbles add depth, complexity, and dynamism to how the story is told. VERDICT This is a slam dunk for sports lovers and a surprising stealth addition to the SEL shelves.-Lindsey Morrison

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