• Age: 6 to 9
• Grade: 1 to 4

From the first jump ball and its humble beginnings at a YMCA with a couple of peach baskets, to the final buzzer and the glam of an NBA slam, basketball bounces onto your bookshelves with J is For Jump Shot. As with the other Sleeping Bear sports titles (7 titles and over 400,000 in print) it is the perfect introduction to the game. Whether reluctant or voracious, readers will be entertained as they learn the rules, fundamentals, famous players and plays. Young fans and old will find nothing but net with Mark Braught's dynamic illustrations as their many questions are answered -- What was the role of Dr. James Naismith in developing the game? Why do referees sometimes place their palm on their head? And who scored more points than any other NBA player? Mike Ulmer has written several books for Sleeping Bear Press including H is for Horse: An Equestrian Alphabet. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario. Mark Braught illustrated last fall's Sleeping Bear Sport title T is for Touchdown: A Football Alphabet. He lives outside Atlanta, Georgia.

Mike lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with his family. Mike writes a sports column for the Toronto Sun newspaper. Among Mike’s books are M Is For Maple: A Canadian Alphabet and H is for Horse: An Equestrian Alphabet.

Michael Ulmer's profile page

In Mark Braught’s own words, “It has been a privilege to create image for many of the world’s top advertising agencies, corporations, design firms and publishers.” His artwork has earned awards from The American Advertising Federation (ADDY), Communication Arts, the NY Art Directors Club and included in the Society of Illustrators Annual Art Exhibition, among others. Mark enjoys his travels to schools, universities and libraries for presentations and workshops and lives in Commerce, Georgia with AnnaBelle, a white boxer, also known as the Pink Princess.

Mark Braught's profile page