Allie's Basketball Dream

Repeatedly told that ""basketball's a boy's game,"" a girl's confidence falters and then rebounds in this encouraging tale. Allie tries out her brand-new basketball, a gift from her father, at a city playground. Although she wants to be a professional player, first she has to get the ball in, and not even her girlfriends want to play. Allie finally convinces one boy that girls can shoot hoops too, and her father returns just in time to see her make a perfect basket. Barber's (Saturday at the New You) message is deserving, if delivered with a heavy hand: the rebuffs Allie weathers are countless, and then applause is just as universal. Ligasan (Caravan) contributes stylized art, created by transferring pencil sketches into a computer. His high-tech medium imparts a three-dimensional look and some playful distortions, too, an effect like that of wide-angle lens. By bringing objects in and out of focus, he effectively portrays motion, adding bounce to a story of perseverance. Ages 4-up. (Oct.)