Kansas University graduate and Tonganoxie resident L. D. Harkrader will read from her new children’s book “Airball: My Life in Briefs,” from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 22 at Oread Books, on level two of the Kansas Union.

The reading will be followed by a discussion and signing.

The novel, published by Roaring Brook Press, is for children in fourth through seventh grade.

The book’s central character, Kirby Nickel, loves basketball but can’t play. Then the beleaguered coach in tiny Stuckey, Kan., announces KU will be retiring the jersey of NBA star and hometown hero Brett “McNet” McGrew and that the seventh-grade team will participate at Allen Fieldhouse. Kirby knows he must try out, but the coach has a plan for Kirby and the supremely untalented team.

Harkrader earned a bachelor’s in fine art from KU in 1988. She has written eight nonfiction books for children and has ghostwritten three books in the popular Animorphs series.