I wrote this book with my son Dan Marzollo. It was inspired by watching games that Dan, his brother Dave, and their friends played when they were young. When Dan and I wrote the book, he was 23, but he remembered real stories about kids and coaches. I'm glad that "Basketball Buddies" is now an eBook.
A lot of girls and boys will like the story because it's about a boy who wasn't a very good player at first. And then…. Read the story to see what happened!

“Everything is right about this easy reader - the simple yet realistic illustrations add color to each page and depict a female referee, an African-American male coach, and ethnically diverse teams of boys and girls. There are no losers, no miracle cures, just good sportsmanship and honest practice.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Fumbling, fouling, and always being teased, Paul is having a miserable time on the basketball team. When the coach calls him in for extra practice, the whole team shows up to lend their support, and Paul learns that he can "...grab rebounds, block shots, and sometimes make a basket" while thinking "all ball." With those simple reminders in place, and a bit of extra practice for all of the players, the team makes a good showing at the finals, and Paul gets a trophy for Most Improved Player. Everything is right about this easy reader-the simple yet realistic illustrations add color to each page and depict a female referee, an African-American male coach, and ethnically diverse teams of boys and girls. There are no losers, no miracle cures, just good sportsmanship and honest practice. - SCHENECTADY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY