“Wat Kept Playing”, by historical author, Emily Inouye Huey, is my book club pick for March!

This picture book biography about Asian American basketball hero Wataru Misaka will inspire young readers to challenge barriers and dream big.

‘The Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka And His Rise To The NBA’, is sensationally illustrated by Kaye Kang. And whether or not those you might find yourself reading it to, (or gifting it to,) are basketball fans, they’ll love this story of “Wat” Misaka who often felt like he didn’t fully belong to the American culture he was born into, or the Japanese culture his parents had come from, and yet, “Wat Kept Playing”.

As he got older, Wat discovered he had both a love, and an amazing talent, for the game of basketball—his troubles would often disappear, or at least recede, when he had a ball in his hands.

Through a World War, when people who looked like Wat were feared in America, through college ball, when he was the shortest person on the team, and through racist heckling from referees and others, his skills expanded, the cheers kept coming, and he found his place on the court and in the world.

Wat’s undeniable talent changed history as he became the first person of color to play in the NBA when he was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1947 BAA Draft.

March Madness is upon us, and “Wat Kept Playing”, is a wonderful way to introduce young people to the game of basketball, while also delivering the important message that though finding our place in the world may not always be easy, the three-point set-up of Dream, Drill, and Determination, will get you well on your way!

Cheer Wat along by ordering copies of “Wat Kept Playing”.