Practice &
About the book
Honoring the Beauty and Brilliance of Childhood Joy
From one of the most important voices on the lives of children today comes a story that champions girls who love sports and touts the importance of perseverance and following your dreams, regardless of what others say you can or can’t do. “Practice and patience, Love,” Bettina’s dad tells her when her love affair with basketball begins. And she takes his advice to heart, from the ba-dum ba-dum of her dribbling to the beautiful swish when the ball finds the net. From the time Bettina wakes until the time she sleeps, she and the ball spend all day together, dancing to the beat of her heart. And when a bigger kid chases her off the court because she’s a girl, it takes only her dad’s reminder that nobody can tell her what or whom to love, and she feels her heartbeat again, stronger than ever. Paired with Frank Morrison’s energetic illustrations, Bettina Love’s picture-book debut makes clear that when you love something fearlessly, not only can it be contagious—it can be everything.
About the book
Honoring the Beauty and Brilliance of Childhood Joy
From one of the most important voices on the lives of children today comes a story that champions girls who love sports and touts the importance of perseverance and following your dreams, regardless of what others say you can or can’t do. “Practice and patience, Love,” Bettina’s dad tells her when her love affair with basketball begins. And she takes his advice to heart, from the ba-dum ba-dum of her dribbling to the beautiful swish when the ball finds the net. From the time Bettina wakes until the time she sleeps, she and the ball spend all day together, dancing to the beat of her heart. And when a bigger kid chases her off the court because she’s a girl, it takes only her dad’s reminder that nobody can tell her what or whom to love, and she feels her heartbeat again, stronger than ever. Paired with Frank Morrison’s energetic illustrations, Bettina Love’s picture-book debut makes clear that when you love something fearlessly, not only can it be contagious—it can be everything.
Endorsements
Praise for Bettina & the Ball
“Powerful and inspiring! At the heart of this moving ode to basketball is the kind of love that propels readers to rise above any obstacle and soar.”
“Prepare to be enthralled with this exhilarating story that follows a young girl with a bold, audacious heart who shows incredible courage on the basketball court. With powerful words and mesmerizing illustrations of dribbling, dancing, and dreaming, Bettina and the Ball helps children learn what it means to be free and to love. A must-have for every home, classroom, and library, this book proves to all children that they belong wherever their dreams take them.”
“Sweet as honey and full of bounce, Bettina and the Ball reminds young readers that every great passion begins with wonder and grows through practice, patience, and, most importantly, LOVE. Dr. Bettina Love has written a beautiful ode to girls, basketball, and the brave joy of following what makes your heart leap. With illustrations full of electrifying movement and infectious joy, this story offers a lesson for all of us: When we nurture what we love, it can teach us how to soar.”
“In the past there were Jordan and Pippen, Stockton and Malone, James and Wade, O’Neal and Bryant, and Curry and Thompson, to name a few. What a wonderful duo—Love and Morrison: a great writer and an amazing illustrator. This book is my favorite kind of children’s book, the kind that celebrates passion, commitment, and love. I absolutely cheered little Bettina on as she found her calling, discovering her joy and expression. I loved this beautiful journey.”
“In her spectacular debut picture book, Dr. Bettina Love shows the reader that with practice, patience, persistence, and a passion for whatever you have your heart set on accomplishing, it’s all possible. With Love, it’s all possible.”
“Bettina and the Ball is more than a story about sport, hard work, and family. It’s also a tale about what it’s like to find the thing that makes you feel most like yourself—love. And I love this book, because just like Bettina’s basketball, every time you put it down, it bounces right back into your hands, over and over again. Absolutely stunning.”
“Bettina and the Ball is as heartwarming as it is necessary. A tender story that reminds children and adults alike not only what love is, but what love can and should be in a world that needs more of it.”
Endorsements
Praise for Bettina & the Ball
“Bettina and the Ball is more than a story about sport, hard work, and family. It’s also a tale about what it’s like to find the thing that makes you feel most like yourself—love. And I love this book, because just like Bettina’s basketball, every time you put it down, it bounces right back into your hands, over and over again. Absolutely stunning.”
“Sweet as honey and full of bounce, Bettina and the Ball reminds young readers that every great passion begins with wonder and grows through practice, patience, and, most importantly, LOVE. Dr. Bettina Love has written a beautiful ode to girls, basketball, and the brave joy of following what makes your heart leap. With illustrations full of electrifying movement and infectious joy, this story offers a lesson for all of us: When we nurture what we love, it can teach us how to soar.”
“Prepare to be enthralled with this exhilarating story that follows a young girl with a bold, audacious heart who shows incredible courage on the basketball court. With powerful words and mesmerizing illustrations of dribbling, dancing, and dreaming, Bettina and the Ball helps children learn what it means to be free and to love. A must-have for every home, classroom, and library, this book proves to all children that they belong wherever their dreams take them.”
“Powerful and inspiring! At the heart of this moving ode to basketball is the kind of love that propels readers to rise above any obstacle and soar.”
“Bettina and the Ball is as heartwarming as it is necessary. A tender story that reminds children and adults alike not only what love is, but what love can and should be in a world that needs more of it.”
“Powerful and inspiring! At the heart of this moving ode to basketball is the kind of love that propels readers to rise above any obstacle and soar.”
“In the past there were Jordan and Pippen, Stockton and Malone, James and Wade, O’Neal and Bryant, and Curry and Thompson, to name a few. What a wonderful duo—Love and Morrison: a great writer and an amazing illustrator. This book is my favorite kind of children’s book, the kind that celebrates passion, commitment, and love. I absolutely cheered little Bettina on as she found her calling, discovering her joy and expression. I loved this beautiful journey.”
Creating unforgettable events
Book Tour Coming Soon!
01
June, 2027
Tour Event One
- The Glasshouse, New York
- 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
15
July, 2027
Tour Event Two
- The Beacon Hall, Toronto
- 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
13
August, 2027
Tour Event Three
- The Glasshouse, New York
- 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Meet The Creators
Every unforgettable story begins with a vision. Discover the author and illustrator whose creativity, passion, and imagination brought Bettina & the Ball to life.
book author
Dr. Bettina Love
Bettina L. Love is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning scholar, and the William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. A former college basketball player and Big East Player of the Week, she led her team in blocked shots and, in 2023, received the Atlantic Coast Conference Unite Award for advancing racial progress on and off the court. A nationally recognized voice in education, Dr. Love inspires over 100,000 teachers annually and is the author of We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom. She lives in New York City—and still loves playing basketball.
book illustrator
Frank Morrison
Frank Morrison started his artistic journey as a graffiti artist in New Jersey before a visit to the Louvre Museum in Paris inspired him to become a fine artist and illustrator. He has won numerous awards for his work, including two NAACP Image Awards, the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, and the Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe Award. He has collaborated with Carole Boston Weatherford on numerous titles, including How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee; R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul; Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual; How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace; and The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop. Frank Morrison lives outside Atlanta.