The Playbook - by Kwame Alexander (Hardcover)

About the Book

You gotta know the rules to play the game. Ball is life. Take it to the hoop. Soar. In this inspirational book full of poetry and inspiring lessons about the rules of life, Newbury Medal-winning Kwame Alexander shares uplifting quotes from all-star athletes like Stephen Curry and Venus Williams and other wonderfully influential figures like Sonia Sotomayor and Michelle Obama.

Book Synopsis

A companion to the Newbery Medal-winning middle grade novel The Crossover, the basis of the show streaming on Disney+!

What can we imagine for our lives? What if we were the star players, moving and grooving through the game of life? What if we had our own rules of the game to help us get what we want, what we aspire to, what will enrich our lives?

Illustrated with photographs by Thai Neave, The Playbook is intended to provide inspiration on the court of life. Each rule contains wisdom from inspiring athletes and role models such as Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, Steph Curry, and Michelle Obama. Kwame Alexander also shares his own stories of overcoming obstacles and winning games in this motivational and inspirational book for readers of any age and for anyone needing a little bit of encouragement.

You gotta know the rules to play the game. Ball is life. Take it to the hoop. Soar.

Review Quotes

Spring 2017 Kids' Indie Next List -- "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"

"The volume reads like a series of locker- room pep talks by a coach with stories to tell and advice to give..." --Horn Book

"A stirring collection of 52 motivational poems-as-rules..." --Publishers Weekly

"The advice never feels heavy-handed, and the author's voice shines through... This will appeal to fans of Alexander's previous middle-grade novels as well as young sports fans." --Kirkus

"Alexander uses sports as a metaphor for life in this earnest gathering of personal reminiscences." --Booklist

About the Author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including Booked and The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book, Crush: Love Poems for Teenagers, and He Said She Said, a YA novel.