Africa’s Child is an unforgettable and searingly personal book….In the face of repeated obstacles and injustices, Nhambu continued to analyze the world around her with wit and a sharp sense of humor. Above all, as a very young child she decided one day that even if there was no other person in the world who loved and wanted her, she was going to love and care for herself—and that decision changed the course of her life.

Africa’s Child is the story of a mixed-race girl growing up in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, East Africa. Raised in an orphanage with no knowledge of her origins or family, she endured abandonment, hardships, severe illnesses, and bullying. Her experiences as a child and teenager included physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, social stigma, and racial discrimination.
Yet Nhambu tells her inspiring story with warmth and humor. Her questioning mind probes the African tribal realities and multi-cultural complexities that impacted her life both at the orphanage and schools run by German nuns as well as at an African high school with American nuns.
Nhambu not only survived her childhood but triumphed. Her faith and resilience, along with a belief in learning and her tenacious pursuit of an education, sustained her through many challenges. Dance, especially African tribal dance, became the way she healed and nourished her spirit.
Through the love and commitment of an American teacher she met in Africa, Nhambu was able to pursue her dream of education and a new life for herself. The first book in her three-part memoir ends as she is leaving Africa for university studies in America on a full scholarship.
Maria Nhambu is the creator of Aerobics With Soul®, a fitness workout based on African dance.

     The classic story of Truman Capote’s childhood Christmas ritual is more endearing than ever in this newly redesigned package.

     In celebration of A Christmas Memory‘s enduring appeal, this repackaged edition retains Beth Peck’s evocative watercolors and an audio CD narration by the venerable Celeste Holm (originator of the Ado Annie role in the 1943 Broadway hit “Oklahoma!” and an Academy Award-winning actress). Originally published in 1956, this is the story from Capote’s childhood of lovingly making fruitcakes from scratch at Christmas-time with his elderly cousin, and has stood the test of time to become known as an American holiday classic. In its new size, it’s perfect for reading alone or reading aloud, or following along while listening to the audio version.

Emma Marques is “Emma the Brave.” Emma was diagnosed with DIPG, an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor, and she is notorious with her doctors for being a “Warrior Princess” during her extensive treatment regimen. Emma can go through radiation treatments, sometimes close to two hours long, without needing any anesthesia.

Emma truly is as brave as brave can be, and she wants to tell her story and be an inspiration to children who are facing similar situations.

Four years of interviews and correspondence with LGBTQ people across the United States and around the globe is captured in first-person accounts that lift hearts and rend souls.

Voices from the Rainbow delves into the world of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer–where the human struggle for love and acceptance is the common denominator. This book offers a path to understanding, acceptance, and healing. It is a call to love.

Books 6-10 Gift Set includes:

Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold
William Carey: Obliged to Go
George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans
Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose
Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar

Now in paperback, the true story of Marcenia Lyle, an African American girl who grew up to become “Toni Stone,” the first woman to play for a professional baseball team

One day in the 1930s, Marcenia and the boys she plays ball with learn that Gabby Street, a famous baseball manager, is scouting children for a baseball summer camp sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals. Eager to earn a spot, Marcenia plays her best, but is discouraged when Mr. Street tells her there are no girls in his camp. Convinced that baseball is her destiny, Marcenia won’t give up, ultimately proving her skill and passion to Mr. Street and her dubious parents.

Here are the extraordinary lives of Abraham and Mary, from their disparate childhoods and tumultuous courtship, through the agony of the Civil War, to the loss of three of their children, and finally their own tragic deaths. Readers can find Mary’s recipe for Abraham’s favorite cake—and bake it themselves; hear what Abraham looked like as a toddler; see a photo of the Lincolns’ dog; discover that the Lincoln children kept goats at the White House; see the Emancipation Proclamation written in Lincoln’ s own hand. Perfect for reluctant readers as well as history lovers, The Lincolns provides a living breathing portrait of a man, a woman, and a country.

Throughout the autobiography, you will discover a number of recurring themes that are pivotal in Vaughn’s life and successes: “playing up,” loyalty, education, commitment, love, and family. Each of these themes should be openly discussed including how they guide Vaughn’s development and his ability to overcome many obstacles. In particular, the theme of “playing up” is one that permeates almost all stages of Vaughn’s life, hence the title of the book. Exploring the various ways in which Vaughn chooses to “play up” will help readers gain a clear understanding of the common sacrifices and challenges often necessary to persevere and to surmount great challenges. By sharing his successes, failures, and development of some key relationships, Vaughn takes the reader on his very honest and reflective journey, using personal journal entries and time capsules to provide historical context.

This book, Playing up: Coaches’ Playbook and Teaching Resources, is an effective interdisciplinary resource for teachers, coaches and youth workers that prompts critical thinking and problem solving, including mini-writing lessons to help students improve their writing skills while reading the book. The Playbook can be scaffolded to meet varying skill levels and contains diverse question types, including true/false, multiple choice and short answer.

For each chapter of Playing Up, you will find these resources in the Playbook, which can be adapted based upon the target audience:

A. Chapter Summary
B. Questions, Class/Group Discussion, Essay Prompts
For middle school students, these may be discussed as a class.
For high school students, these may either be discussed as a class or assigned as short-answer essay prompts.
For college students, these may be assigned as essay prompts.
C. Class/Group Activities
D. Web Sites of Relevance
E. Chapter Quiz
For each chapter, there are 12 multiple choice, 10 true or false, and 2 to 4 short-answer response questions for middle to high school students.
Writing Techniques
For each chapter, there is 1 writing technique, instruction and practice that corresponds to writing techniques employed in the book Playing UP.

Playing Up and its companion Playbook are unique in that they both start before Vaughn attends middle school, more definitively engaging its middle-school and high-school audiences, and continues past his university years to professional and civic successes where he diligently works to help youth and young professionals reach their potential. Playing Up and the Playbook provide a true-to-life compass that readers can follow to “play up” in their own lives.

Let the journey begin.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Learn all about WWE Superstar, Kofi Kingston. Kofi Kingston is one of WWE’s most popular Superstars. Discover the ins and outs of his rise to prominence, his biggest rivalries and alliances, his finishing moves, nicknames, signature taunts, and managers!