Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball
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- Create Date：2021-04-23 11:58:02
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Jen Bryant
- ISBN：141974108X
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Summary
The story of Elgin Baylor， basketball icon and civil rights advocate， from an all-star team
Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players—an innovative athlete， team player， and quiet force for change。 One of the first professional African-American players， he inspired others on and off the court。 But when traveling for away games， many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was black。 One night， Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press， the public， and the NBA。
Above the Rim is a poetic， exquisitely illustrated telling of the life of an underrecognized athlete and a celebration of standing up for what is right。
Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players—an innovative athlete， team player， and quiet force for change。 One of the first professional African-American players， he inspired others on and off the court。 But when traveling for away games， many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was black。 One night， Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press， the public， and the NBA。
Above the Rim is a poetic， exquisitely illustrated telling of the life of an underrecognized athlete and a celebration of standing up for what is right。
Reviews
Erin Buhr
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This is a really good story to include alongside books about the counter sit in， Rosa Parks， and other nonviolent protests during the Civil Rights Movement。 Elgin Baylor was one of the first African American basketball players in the NBA and he used his position to stand up （or sit down technically） for the rights of Black Americans in our country。 It's not a commonly told story， but an impressive one and one likely to strike a cord with athletes and sports fans。 This is a really good story to include alongside books about the counter sit in， Rosa Parks， and other nonviolent protests during the Civil Rights Movement。 Elgin Baylor was one of the first African American basketball players in the NBA and he used his position to stand up （or sit down technically） for the rights of Black Americans in our country。 It's not a commonly told story， but an impressive one and one likely to strike a cord with athletes and sports fans。 。。。more
Abbey Link
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This book encourages the reader to stand up for what is right and to inspire others！
LaVonne Hanlon
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MCAA。 Gr。 K-4。 Named Rookie of the Year in 1959， Elgin Baylor displayed great talent as a National Basketball Association player， dodging and twisting like a butterfly as he racked up scores。 But when he was denied food and entry into whites-only venues in West Virginia， he changed the game off-court as well by refusing to play – and the gaming commissioner decreed that no NBA team would use establishments that practiced discrimination following this incident。 "Sometimes you have to sit down to MCAA。 Gr。 K-4。 Named Rookie of the Year in 1959， Elgin Baylor displayed great talent as a National Basketball Association player， dodging and twisting like a butterfly as he racked up scores。 But when he was denied food and entry into whites-only venues in West Virginia， he changed the game off-court as well by refusing to play – and the gaming commissioner decreed that no NBA team would use establishments that practiced discrimination following this incident。 "Sometimes you have to sit down to stand up，" notes award-winning biographer Jennifer Bryant， who compares Baylor's struggles to those of Rosa Parks and other civil rights heroes who were conducting sit-ins around the country。 Artist Frank Morrison， known for illustrating biographies of other notable African Americans， runs a full court press here， capturing the grace and motion of one of basketball's finest players。 An author's note， timeline， and substantial suggestions for further reading are worthwhile additions。 Learn more about Baylor and NBA history at https://www。nba。com/history/legends/p。。。， or check some of Bryant's other picture book biographies at https://www。jenbryant。com/ 。。。more
Madyson Smith
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Above the Rim is incredibly powerful！ I loved reading how Elgin Baylor created change and stood up for what he believed in。 This is truly an incredible book。 I really enjoyed the illustrations as well。
Sharla Desy
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I expected to be bored off my squash by this book。 Not a bit！ It wasn't so much about basketball as it was about a talented athlete who changed the way his sport was played。 He was a role model for integrity and dignity and insisted on being treated with respect。 I am a big fan of the timeline in the end notes。 I expected to be bored off my squash by this book。 Not a bit！ It wasn't so much about basketball as it was about a talented athlete who changed the way his sport was played。 He was a role model for integrity and dignity and insisted on being treated with respect。 I am a big fan of the timeline in the end notes。 。。。more
Bridget Hall
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LOVED！！！ Very inspirational。 Enjoyed how the author wove the story of Elgin Baylor with events that were happening in the fight for civil rights。
Petra Nabi
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This is another book I read this semester where the illustrations really brought the book together。 I thought it tied the autobiographical aspect and the information about civil rights together nicely。
Elih Waltermeyer
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A rather inspirational story about change and standing up for what is right no matter what。 This is a great tale for any sports fan， or anybody wanting to feel empowered！
Hannah Kalberg
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Above the Rim well-deservingly won the Orbis Pictus Book Award！ What a beautiful book this is， not to mention the wonderful illustrations。 Wow， are those spectacular。 This book tells the true story of Elgin Baylor， who made history in American basketball by resisting discrimination by refusing to play basketball games （on the Lakers） if any part of their trip had racial discrimination （the hotels they stayed in， the restaurants they ate at， etc。）。 This book is not just for basketball lovers -- i Above the Rim well-deservingly won the Orbis Pictus Book Award！ What a beautiful book this is， not to mention the wonderful illustrations。 Wow， are those spectacular。 This book tells the true story of Elgin Baylor， who made history in American basketball by resisting discrimination by refusing to play basketball games （on the Lakers） if any part of their trip had racial discrimination （the hotels they stayed in， the restaurants they ate at， etc。）。 This book is not just for basketball lovers -- it has the ability to reach any reader。 This biography tells the true story of strength and endurance， standing up for what you feel and believe in。 It highlights the fact that we are ALL human beings and each deserves to be treated as so。 He made a difference in basketball that would stick forever， just be sitting down。 The creativity， art， and history in this story all make it the great book it is。 Highly， highly recommend！ 。。。more
Miss Grady
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Fantastic book！！
Nicki
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Super interesting story about Elgin "Rabbit" Baylor！ Super interesting story about Elgin "Rabbit" Baylor！ 。。。more
wildct2003
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Wished it would have talked more about his basketball talents and how he was different。 Still a good read。
June
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Describes how as a child， DC had "whites only" parks。 How finally a basketball hoop was installed in a field near his home。 Elgin's unique style of play。 However， DC colleges wanted whites only， so Elgin went out west。 Ties in black history moments during his life （Rosa Parks， school integration， lunch counter protests） Elgin was the Minneapolis Lakers the number one draft pick。 When playing in West Virginia all the restaurants had "whites only。" So Elgin refused to play。 Fans were upset。 Howeve Describes how as a child， DC had "whites only" parks。 How finally a basketball hoop was installed in a field near his home。 Elgin's unique style of play。 However， DC colleges wanted whites only， so Elgin went out west。 Ties in black history moments during his life （Rosa Parks， school integration， lunch counter protests） Elgin was the Minneapolis Lakers the number one draft pick。 When playing in West Virginia all the restaurants had "whites only。" So Elgin refused to play。 Fans were upset。 However， the NBA Commissioner "made a new rule: No NBA teams would stay in a hotel or eat in a restaurant that practiced discrimination。" Impressive NBA stats for his 14 years all before 3 point line。Author's Note， Further Reading， Notes， and a really impressive Timeline。 。。。more
Kelly Hamann
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This book was the Orbis Pictus Award for 2021 and read on YouTube: https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=2HqOT。。。This book would be a great add to the stories we know about Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges and Martin Luther King， Jr。 Elgin Baylor used his NBA fame in the late 1950s to stand up for equal treatment for every team member in every town his team played in。 Like others， he peacefully sat down to take a stand and the NBA owners changed their policy as a result。 His name was not one I knew。 That's This book was the Orbis Pictus Award for 2021 and read on YouTube: https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=2HqOT。。。This book would be a great add to the stories we know about Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges and Martin Luther King， Jr。 Elgin Baylor used his NBA fame in the late 1950s to stand up for equal treatment for every team member in every town his team played in。 Like others， he peacefully sat down to take a stand and the NBA owners changed their policy as a result。 His name was not one I knew。 That's important because kids need to understand that it was many people doing the right thing， risking it all， for a movement to form。 The lyrical description contributed to the elegance of the book。 I think it would be great for 2nd-4th graders。 。。。more
Miss Sarah
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A great elementary and up picture book biography of Elgin Baylor an African American Basketball star who helped change NBA racial policy all while setting records on the court。
Annamarie Carlson （she， her）
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Learn about the life of the extraordinary Elgin Baylor， an incredible and innovative basketball player that helped shape the NBA and combatted racism with a one-man protest after not being permitted to stay in any hotels or eat in any restaurants in the segregated south。 Wow， this was a particularly stellar picture book biography！ Great artwork and a well-framed story with high appeal。
Desiree
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Readers learn so much about the origin of basketball and the barriers Elgin Baylor had to overcome。 He revolutionized the game and his protest made the National Basketball Association take notice。 I enjoyed learning that the L。A。 Lakers were originally the Minnesota Lakers。 Perfect for young fans of basketball。
Pamela
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There's so much to love about this biography of Elgin Baylor--the incredible， expressive art， the lyrical language， and the positive， timeless messages about expressing your individual gifts， the value of quiet courage， and the need to stand up for yourself and for others。 This book inspired me to spend time on You Tube appreciating Baylor's basketball style--and yes the man was amazing！ There's so much to love about this biography of Elgin Baylor--the incredible， expressive art， the lyrical language， and the positive， timeless messages about expressing your individual gifts， the value of quiet courage， and the need to stand up for yourself and for others。 This book inspired me to spend time on You Tube appreciating Baylor's basketball style--and yes the man was amazing！ 。。。more
Mlj9029
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Great graphic nonfiction providing information and colorful illustrations of the life of the great Elgin Baylor。 Perfect for basketball fans who are reluctant readers。 The timeline included at the end of the book is an important feature that should not be passed by。
Kathy
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This is about an amazing athlete and team player that I hadn't heard of before， and the challenges he faced as an African American in the 1950's and 60s。 Finally， he staged a solo protest demanding to be treated as a human。 I can't but compare the quick results he got with the black-balling and shaming that Kaepernick faced when he protested。 The art in this is worth a paragraph on its own: elongated humans reminiscent of El Greco， the action almost jumps off the page。 This is about an amazing athlete and team player that I hadn't heard of before， and the challenges he faced as an African American in the 1950's and 60s。 Finally， he staged a solo protest demanding to be treated as a human。 I can't but compare the quick results he got with the black-balling and shaming that Kaepernick faced when he protested。 The art in this is worth a paragraph on its own: elongated humans reminiscent of El Greco， the action almost jumps off the page。 。。。more
Kim
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An amazingly illustrated picture book biography about Elgin Baylor。 I'm a sports fan， although not of professional basketball or football and I did not know who this was。 As a black man， he suffered discrimination during his HS， College， and Professional career。 Once he made it to the NBA， he sat down and refused to play until he was allowed to sleep and eat where the rest of his teammates。 The NBA commissioner made a rule that the NBA would not use hotels or restaurants that practiced discrimin An amazingly illustrated picture book biography about Elgin Baylor。 I'm a sports fan， although not of professional basketball or football and I did not know who this was。 As a black man， he suffered discrimination during his HS， College， and Professional career。 Once he made it to the NBA， he sat down and refused to play until he was allowed to sleep and eat where the rest of his teammates。 The NBA commissioner made a rule that the NBA would not use hotels or restaurants that practiced discrimination。 I'm buying two copies for my elementary library！ 。。。more
Jeannie
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This “picture book” biography of Elgin Baylor， who was not only an outstanding basketball player and coach but also a civil right activist， is very inspiring。 Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison bring him to life。 It’s not just the facts， but also the rhythm and fluidity of his life that make it appealing。 Back matter: author’s note， bibliography of books， websites and audio recordings as well as a timeline give the curious reader more to fill out the Elgin Baylor story。 This is a good choice for relu This “picture book” biography of Elgin Baylor， who was not only an outstanding basketball player and coach but also a civil right activist， is very inspiring。 Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison bring him to life。 It’s not just the facts， but also the rhythm and fluidity of his life that make it appealing。 Back matter: author’s note， bibliography of books， websites and audio recordings as well as a timeline give the curious reader more to fill out the Elgin Baylor story。 This is a good choice for reluctant readers。 。。。more
Ellie 9218
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Above the Rim is a lyrical， beautifully illustrated story of Elgin Baylor， one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players， and one of the first black NBA players during the height of the civil rights movement。 He faced racism and discrimination in hotels and restaurants who turned Baylor away just because he was black。 So， he staged a one-man peaceful protest "sit down to stand up" which led to an anti-discrimination rule change by the NBA。My ♥ belongs to Elgin and his story。 Above the Rim is a lyrical， beautifully illustrated story of Elgin Baylor， one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players， and one of the first black NBA players during the height of the civil rights movement。 He faced racism and discrimination in hotels and restaurants who turned Baylor away just because he was black。 So， he staged a one-man peaceful protest "sit down to stand up" which led to an anti-discrimination rule change by the NBA。My ♥ belongs to Elgin and his story。 。。。more
Edward Sullivan
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Bryant's lively verse and Morrison's vibrant illustrations chronicle Elgin Baylor's rise to basketball stardom in spite of the racist obstacles he faced in his childhood and throughout his career。 Baylor's unique style of play in the early days of the NBA transformed the game of basketball。 After Baylor staged his own peaceful protest against segregation during an NBA game in 1959， the league took its first steps toward recognizing and rectifying the discrimination that Black players faced as th Bryant's lively verse and Morrison's vibrant illustrations chronicle Elgin Baylor's rise to basketball stardom in spite of the racist obstacles he faced in his childhood and throughout his career。 Baylor's unique style of play in the early days of the NBA transformed the game of basketball。 After Baylor staged his own peaceful protest against segregation during an NBA game in 1959， the league took its first steps toward recognizing and rectifying the discrimination that Black players faced as they traveled the country。 。。。more
Maggi Rohde
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This narrative biography interweaves history with Elgin Baylor's personal success story。 Morrison's illustrations are breathtaking！ This narrative biography interweaves history with Elgin Baylor's personal success story。 Morrison's illustrations are breathtaking！ 。。。more
Connie Klever
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I've been trying to order more African American nonfiction and picture books that express black joy vs。 hardships， but this one really stands out as great。 What I love is Frank Morrison's painted illustrations--magnificent。 Story also demonstrates peaceful but impactful protest （Elgin sits down during game） and support from white teammates。 I also appreciated the historical background of the NBA that was shared so children could understand context of Elgin's experience a bit better。 I also shy a I've been trying to order more African American nonfiction and picture books that express black joy vs。 hardships， but this one really stands out as great。 What I love is Frank Morrison's painted illustrations--magnificent。 Story also demonstrates peaceful but impactful protest （Elgin sits down during game） and support from white teammates。 I also appreciated the historical background of the NBA that was shared so children could understand context of Elgin's experience a bit better。 I also shy away from African American basketball bios （so many！）， but this is a stand out。 。。。more
Sandy
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A powerful and timely story about how NBA star Elgin Baylor stood up to racism by siting down。 This picture book biography follows Baylor though his childhood， basketball career， and the civil rights movement。 While my daughter knows nothing about basketball， she still found Baylor's story to be inspiring and could see the similarities to athlete protests today。 A powerful and timely story about how NBA star Elgin Baylor stood up to racism by siting down。 This picture book biography follows Baylor though his childhood， basketball career， and the civil rights movement。 While my daughter knows nothing about basketball， she still found Baylor's story to be inspiring and could see the similarities to athlete protests today。 。。。more
Laura Giessler
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What an awesome book。 I love how the text and beautiful illustrations bring to life Elgin Baylor， starting with his childhood， moving through his college days， and finally to the Minneapolis Lakers。 It's surprising to think of the NBA when it was NOT a glamourous gig。 I love how the author weaves Baylor's work and accomplishments with work that was simultaneously going on for civil rights。 "Meanwhile， another team" gathered to practice non-violent resistance techniques to prepare for the sit-ins What an awesome book。 I love how the text and beautiful illustrations bring to life Elgin Baylor， starting with his childhood， moving through his college days， and finally to the Minneapolis Lakers。 It's surprising to think of the NBA when it was NOT a glamourous gig。 I love how the author weaves Baylor's work and accomplishments with work that was simultaneously going on for civil rights。 "Meanwhile， another team" gathered to practice non-violent resistance techniques to prepare for the sit-ins。 The expressions on the faces on nearly every single page are so full of life and communicate so much。 I especially love the page where the young boys are reading the news about how Baylor refused to play in a game to protest his treatment at restaurants and hotels。 Amazing that "a few weeks later"， the commissioner of the NBA ruled that no NBA teams would stay at a hotel or eat at a restaurant that practiced discrimination。 I saw this summer how the NBA was a force for change in the BLM civil rights movement， but I hadn't appreciated that maybe they have long been an effective advocate for change。 In addition to the faces， the elongated bodies and limbs of the people portrayed gives the book an appealing and artistic flair。 Such a great book。 。。。more
Lynn
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Outstanding teamwork here between author Jen Bryant and one of my favorite illustrators， Frank Morrison。 Their subject， Elgin Baylor， is celebrated for his soaring hanging leaps on the basketball court but as Bryant writes， he soared in his quiet efforts to advance equal rights and opportunities。Baylor did so much but was never a grand-stander， preferring to quietly going about whatever he took on。 I learned so much from this excellent book as will anyone who reads it。 Frank Morrison's illustrat Outstanding teamwork here between author Jen Bryant and one of my favorite illustrators， Frank Morrison。 Their subject， Elgin Baylor， is celebrated for his soaring hanging leaps on the basketball court but as Bryant writes， he soared in his quiet efforts to advance equal rights and opportunities。Baylor did so much but was never a grand-stander， preferring to quietly going about whatever he took on。 I learned so much from this excellent book as will anyone who reads it。 Frank Morrison's illustrations soar too， bringing the time and issues vividly to life for young readers and also highlighting Baylor's breathtaking athletic ability and balletic grace。 One of my favorite pages shows the elongated figure of Baylor hanging in the air and just releasing the ball， backlit by the sun。 Another favorite is the stark black and white depicting Baylor in the background with a scene from of Ruby Bridges surrounded by jeering demonstrators， protesting the integration of schools。 It is a wonderful way to emphasize the quiet determination of the people of the time to change conditions in steadfast non-violent ways。Excellent back matter includes suggestions for further reading and a lengthy timeline。 This book is a treat for the mind and the eyes。 。。。more
Patty
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