Book Descriptions
for Rimshots by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
"Basketball is a game I have loved since I was a child...Even though I'm not great at the game, I can marvel at those who are...On the streets, I've seen guys do things I didn't think could be done. In college games, I've seen destinies fulfilled and hearts broken--all within a tenth of a second." Photographer/writer Charles Smith Jr.'s love of basketball is one with which many young readers will identify. They may also identify with the many perspectives on the game presented in this energetic collection of photographs and 14 original prose and poetic pieces that are sometimes wry, sometimes euphoric, but always impassioned. From the sardonic "Excuses, Excuses" to the slyly humorous "No Soles" to the soaring "The Sweetest Roll," Smith refreshing celebrates the game as it is played on the street and in high school gymnasiums and college arenas rather than the athletic exploits of superstars. But it is the dynamic text design, in which changing fonts and color are used to suggest the energy and rhythm of the game and the emotions of the players, and Smith's quietly explosive duotone photographs of games on the street, that truly distinguish this collection. All of the photographs and much of the text are focused on male players. The absence of women and girls is unfortunate; nonetheless this is a book that should appeal to readers--and nonreaders--of many ages. (Age 10 and older)
CCBC Choices 2000. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2000. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
"I want to thank you for helping me to exceed my goal.
As you can see, your endless talk and chatter only served as fuel for my fire.
And judging from the score, you just got burned." This major debut from a talented young writer and photographer is a righteously entertaining medley of quick stories, poems, jokes, and prose meditations focusing on The Game as played by high school and college hopefuls, street warriors, and the pros they all admire. Gritty duotone photographs of street courts and young urban players provide the perfect venue for the bold design of the text as it hums and weaves across the spreads. Inspired by his love of African-American rhythms in writing and jazz, Charles Smith has created a paean to his favorite game that will drive readers' imaginations from the page to the courts and back again.
As you can see, your endless talk and chatter only served as fuel for my fire.
And judging from the score, you just got burned." This major debut from a talented young writer and photographer is a righteously entertaining medley of quick stories, poems, jokes, and prose meditations focusing on The Game as played by high school and college hopefuls, street warriors, and the pros they all admire. Gritty duotone photographs of street courts and young urban players provide the perfect venue for the bold design of the text as it hums and weaves across the spreads. Inspired by his love of African-American rhythms in writing and jazz, Charles Smith has created a paean to his favorite game that will drive readers' imaginations from the page to the courts and back again.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.