From the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes the first book in an exciting new middle grade series about a fourth-grader with big dreams of basketball stardom. Fourth grader Zayd Saleem has some serious hoop dreams. He’s not just going to be a professional basketball player. He’s going to be a star. A legend. The first Pakistani-American kid to make it to the NBA. He knows this deep in his soul. It’s his destiny. There are only a few small things in his way. For starters, Zayd’s only on the D-team. (D stands for developmental, but to Zayd it’s always felt like a bad grade or something.) Not to mention, he’s a bit on the scrawny side, even for the fourth grade team. But his best friend Adam is on the Gold Team, and it’s Zayd’s dream for the two of them to play together. His mom and dad don’t get it. They want him to practice his violin way more than his jump shot. When he gets caught blowing off his violin lessons to practice, Zayd’s parents lay down the ultimate punishment: he has to hang up his high tops and isn’t allowed to play basketball anymore. As tryouts for the Gold Team approach, Zayd has to find the courage to stand up for himself and chase his dream.

Every path to adulthood is strewn with missteps, epiphanies, and hard-earned lessons. Only Reggie Love’s, however, went through the White House by way of Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mentored by both Coach Krzyzewski and President Obama, Love shares universal insights learned in unique circumstances, an education in how sports, politics, and life can define who you are, what you believe in, and what it takes to make a difference. Power Forward tells the story of the five years Love worked as a personal assistant to Senator Obama as a candidate for president, and President Obama, and it is a professional coming of age story like no other. What the public knows was well put by Time magazine in 2008: “[Love’s] official duties don’t come close to capturing Reggie’s close bond with Obama, who plays a role that is part boss and part big brother.” What the public doesn’t know are the innumerable private moments during which that bond was forged and the President mentored a malleable young man. Accountability and serving with pride and honor were learned during unsought moments: from co-coaching grade school girls basketball with the president; lending Obama his tie ahead of a presidential debate; managing a personal life when no hour is truly his own; being tasked with getting the candidate up in the morning on time for long days of campaigning. From his first interview with Senator Obama, to his near-decision not to follow the president-elect to the White House, to eventually bringing LeBron, Melo, D-Wade, and Kobe to play with the President on his forty-ninth birthday, Love drew on Coach K’s teachings as he learned to navigate Washington. But it was while owning up to losing (briefly) the President’s briefcase, figuring out how to compete effectively in pick-up games in New Hampshire during the primary to secure support and votes, babysitting the children of visiting heads of state, and keeping the President company at every major turning point of his historic first campaign and administration, that Love learned how persistence and passion can lead not only to success, but to a broader concept of responsibility.

Discover the struggles and triumphs of fourth-grader Zayd Saleem as he pursues his dream of being a basketball star in this bind-up of the complete middle grade series from the acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice and More to the Story. Zayd Saleem has serious hoop dreams. He’s going to be a basketball star. A legend. There are only a few small things in his way. For starters, Zayd’s on the scrawny side and gets stomach aches when he’s nervous. He has to convince his coach that he has what it takes to join his best friend Adam on the elite Gold Team. His mom and dad want him to practice his violin way more than his jump shot. Plus, it doesn’t help that his older sister Zara is amazing at every sport she tries. But Zayd has a lot going for him, too. His grandmother is willing to supply him with all the mango milkshakes he wants. His grandfather has a few tricks up the sleeve of his velour track suit. And his favorite uncle keeps Zayd laughing, even if it’s sometimes so hard he needs to pee. Zayd’s family, combined with his friends, teammates, and his own determination, means he’s got everything he needs to chase his dream. Will he reach it?

Mark Messier is a six-time Stanley Cup champion and has played more playoff games than anyone in NHL history. As a star player with the Edmonton Oilers, Messier had two 100-point scoring seasons and -- along with Wayne Gretzky -- led the team to four Stanley Cup victories. After Gretzky left the Oilers to join the Los Angeles Kings, Messier stepped up to captain the Oilers to their fifth Cup victory. During his brief period with the New York Rangers, he won the Stanley Cup again. Currently, he plays center for the Vancouver Canucks and is fourth in NHL all-time scoring.

A historic energy revolution is underway in the United States. Wind, sunlight, and other sustainable resources are now the fastest growing sources of energy in the U.S. and worldwide. American families are installing power plants on their roofs and entire communities are switching to 100 percent renewable energy. The urgent need to prevent climate change is causing people around the planet to question their reliance on carbon-intensive oil, coal, and natural gas. Author Bill Ritter, Jr., the 41st governor of Colorado and one of America's key thought leaders on this topic, discusses the forces behind the energy revolution, the new ways we must think about energy, and the future of fossil and renewable fuels. It is an essential read for any who want to understand one of history's biggest challenges to peace, prosperity, and security in the United States. Written in partnership with the Center for a New Energy Economy.

HIGH-INTEREST, LOW-LEVEL: Reluctant readers will be engaged from beginning to end as they explore the responsibilities and skills of the power forward in this 32-page nonfiction book. Side-by-side English and Spanish text and vivid, exciting photos show readers what it takes to fill this key position in basketball. SPORTS BOOK FOR KIDS: Power forwards know how to throw their weight around on the basketball court. These players catch rebounds and block shots. Learn what it takes to be a great power forward and what these players do to lead their team to victory! INCLUDES: Readers will be hooked from beginning to end with facts and photos about some of the key positions in sports. Comprehension questions and activities support students, teachers, and parents. BENEFITS: This bilingual series supports reluctant readers with side-by-side English and Spanish text. Each book features stand-alone spreads, so readers can flip pages and read in any order. Glossary words are defined on the page where they appear, boosting reader comprehension. WHY ROURKE: Since 1980, we’ve been committed to bringing out the best non-fiction books to help you bring out the best in your young learners. Our carefully crafted topics encourage all students who are “learning to read” and “reading to learn"!

From the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes the second book in an exciting new middle grade series about a scrawny fourth-grader with big dreams of basketball stardom. Now that Zayd has made the Gold Team, he’s hustling hard and loving every minute of the season. But when the team starts to struggle, Zayd can’t help wondering if it has something to do with him. Even worse, his best friend Adam suddenly starts acting like he doesn’t care about basketball anymore, even though they are finally teammates. He stops playing basketball with Zayd at recess and starts hanging out with other kids. Then, Adam up and quits the Gold Team to play football instead. While his uncle’s wedding preparations turn life into a circus at home, Zayd is left on his own to figure things out. He has to decide how to still be friends with Adam and step up to fill the empty shoes he left on the court. Does Zayd have what it takes to be on point and lead his team back to victory?

Unleash your inner mindful leader Mindfulness, emotional intelligence and resilience are the “must have skills” for modern leaders—yet many professionals are too stressed to know where to start. Creating Mindful Leaders provides deep insights and easy practices based in neuroscience, brain training and positive psychology to help professionals thrive in the “age of disruption.” Written by a global COO turned successful tech entrepreneur, the book provides a roadmap to greater health, happiness and performance. It speaks to every professional wanting to reduce stress, achieve greater success and enjoy life more. Offers immediately actionable techniques for professionals at all skill levels Provides relatable, real-world advice Helps build resilience while changing your relationship to stress Shares a roadmap for sustainable performance in the face of ongoing change Creating Mindful Leaders provides an informed, humorous and expert peak into the sources of stress caused by the modern pace of living and offers practical, actionable tools and techniques as the antidote to manage stress, increase resilience, and improve your wellbeing, performance, relationships, sleep and physical health.

Learn the Incredible Story of Basketball Superstar Tim Duncan!Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device!In Tim Duncan: The Inspiring Story of Basketball's Greatest Power Forward, you'll read about the inspirational story of basketball's greatest power forwards Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan has kept the San Antonio Spurs relevant in the NBA for every year of his long NBA career. In this short book, we will learn about how Duncan became the incredible power forward that he is today. Starting first with a look into his childhood and early life, we'll learn about Tim Duncan prior to entering the NBA, along with his time in the NBA playing alongside David Robinson to his time playing with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili leading the San Antonio Spurs.Tim Duncan is easily one of the greatest, if not the greatest power forward to play the game of basketball. For a man who once was just a kid fulfilling a promise to his parents to earn a college degree at Wake Forest, Tim Duncan has come a long way over the course of his basketball career.It will be exciting to see how Duncan and the Spurs do in this year's 2013-2014 NBA playoffs.Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Early Life and Childhood College Years at Wake Forest Duncan's NBA Career Tim Duncan's Personal Life Tim's Impact on Basketball and Beyond Duncan's Legacy An excerpt from the book:A half-decade ago, the Spurs were the most hated team in the league. In the eyes of the media and fans alike, they were not the brilliant, beautiful team that executed basketball at a level which no other team could do. They were an ugly, defense-first boring team that would never hesitate to use dirty tricks, flop, or work the referees to beat more exciting, fun teams like the "Seven Seconds or Less" Phoenix Suns. Bruce Bowen was a nasty piece of work who would kick an opposing player in the face if he could get away with it, Robert Horry hip-checked Steve Nash into the stands in the playoffs and Manu Ginobili was a cowardly flopper. Duncan may not have received quite the ire of his teammates, but he was boring. A superstar without a doubt, but one who got to play on stacked teams unlike Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant who struggled on mediocre teams in the mid-2000s. But do the Spurs care about the fact that those who love them today are also those who castigated them in the past? Not in the slightest. They just keep winning one 50-game season after another, chasing championships and glory. Right in the middle of that, Tim Duncan, oblivious to the roars or boos of the crowd, continues to play, with the same efficiency and genius that he has brought to the NBA over the past 17 years of his career.

Networking requires you to "kiss a lot of frogs" (i.e., meet a lot of people) to find your "princes"-those precious few who can make a difference in your life. But the real secret to networking is discovering what you can do for someone else. Networking guru Darcy Rezac helps redefine networking-his "what can I do for you?" approach has helped thousands overcome their fear of networking and find more success. Rezac uses his trademarked 7-step N.E.T.W.O.R.K. process to help readers avoid the "toads" and make the right connections-in business and in life. N: Never leave home without one's business cards E: Establish, exchange, engage-simple techniques that really work T: Travel in pairs-how to have more fun networking W:"Work the pond"-practice Positive Networking and use time wisely O: Opportunity is everywhere-discover "small-worlds" connections R: Repeat, repeat, repeat-the more networking one does, the better one gets K: Keep it going-the art of follow-up and relationship-building