A true story of sacrificing everything for family, living with nothing but hope, then sharing generously all they received to discover the greatest riches of all. Tani Adewumi didn’t know what Boko Haram was or why they had threatened his family. All he knew was that when his parents told the family was going to America, Tani thought it was the start of a great adventure rather than an escape. In truth, his family’s journey to the United States was nothing short of miraculous—and the miracles were just beginning. Tani’s father, Kayode, became a dishwasher and Uber driver while Tani’s mother, Oluwatoyin, cleaned buildings, while the family lived in a homeless shelter. Eight-year-old Tani jumped into his new life with courage and perseverance—and an unusual mind for chess. After joining the chess club in his public school, Tani practiced his game for hours in the evenings at the shelter. And less than a year after he learned to play, Tani won the New York State chess championship. A young boy with an aptitude for chess? Absolutely. But if you ask Tani Adewumi, he will tell you he believes in miracles and one happened to him and his family. This story will inspire, delight, and challenge you to believe, too.

Do you believe in miracles? Tani Adewumi does. An eight-year-old refugee from Nigeria, Tani shocked the ultra-exclusive chess club community when he won the New York State Chess Championship after only playing the game for a year. But what no one realized is that his story was already full of miracles.

My Name is Tani: The Amazing True Story of One Boy’s Journey from Refugee to Chess Champion The story that is inspiring everyone! Soon to be a Paramount motion picture. Draw deep into the dramatic account of escape from terrorism. Tani Adewumi’s story begins amid Boko Haram’s reign of terror in Nigeria, but this doesn’t stop him from pursuing a most unlikely dream. At the age of eight, when Tani and his family’s lives are threatened, they are forced to flee for their lives and seek asylum. The odds were against Tani for ever finding a prosperous life in a foreign city, once enjoyed in his native Nigeria. But sometimes the unexpected is found in the most unlikely circumstances. As Tani’s family becomes a target for capture and killings, their miraculous escape takes them across an ocean to New York City. Tani’s father, who comes from a royal family and has left behind thirteen employees in Nigeria, becomes a dishwasher and an Uber driver to support his family. Tani’s mother, whose family helps to oversee the finances for a large Nigerian printing press, worked at a bank for more than eight years but is now training to become a home health aide. After eighteen months, the family is still at a shelter, unbeknownst to Tani’s classmates. One day Tani asks his parents if he can join the chess program. It seems unlikely since a fee is required. His mother writes to the coach, who offers Tani a scholarship. Tani jumps in to learn the game. The result is not only an unexpected twist of events in a chess competition but also the rescue of an entire family. In My Name is Tani, we witness the crossfire between miracle and mayhem. A young boy with only a dream in his heart recounts his harrowing escape from Boko Haram’s grips and changes his destiny in the process when he finds purpose in the most unlikely of places – a chess championship. In step with The Girl from Aleppo, and in the spirit of I am Malala, Tani’s story sheds light on living through terror. This story of community and hope recounts the lengths parents will go through to find safety for their family. It’s a story of what happens one you dare to dream.

Tani Adewumi's moving true story of immigrating to America, developing his talent for chess, and finding a new home will inspire families looking for stories of hope and kindness. * 2021 ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award winner Tani was just six years old when he and his family fled persecution in Nigeria and became refugees in New York City. Tani was amazed, and a little overwhelmed, by all the new things in America. But one new experience turned out to be the most wonderful discovery--chess! With joy and determination, Tani studied hard, practicing chess for hours on the floor of his room in the homeless shelter. Less than a year later, he won the New York State Chess Championship, and through one act of kindness after another, found a new home. This picture book biography for children ages 5 to 10 tells the captivating real-life story of a young chess champion celebrates the power of hope and hard work reminds us that we can each make the world a more welcoming place encourages empathy and compassion includes beautiful digital illustrations by Courtney Dawson is perfect for children reading alone; story time for families, classrooms, and libraries; and celebrations of World Refugee Day This exciting book about chess, family, and community reminds us all that home is a place where you can follow your dreams.

My Name Is Tani Young Readers Edition Educator's Guide is a companion to My Name Is Tani . . . And I Believe in Miracles Young Readers Edition by Tani Adewumi. This guide can be utilized in the classroom, in a home school setting, or by parents seeking additional resources. Ideal for grades 4th-6th.

For fans of The Queen's Gambit comes a brand-new book from 11-year-old chess champion Oliver Boydell. How a King Plays features 64 of Boydell's tips, strategies, and ideas to help chess enthusiasts of all ages sharpen their game skills. Whether you're new to chess or a Grandmaster, there's something for everyone in chess phenom Oliver Boydell's new book of 64 chess tips, How a King Plays. At only 11-years-old, Boydell has already been both a National Chess Champion and a New York City Chess Champion who's competed at numerous major scholastic chess events since he started playing at the age of 5. Now, Boydell is lending his talents to the page as he shares some of his best tips that helped him become a star. Written in his signature concise and witty voice, Boydell offers players of all levels—from beginners to advanced—a different, creative tip on every page. An introduction from the author, inspirational quotes from chess greats, and a glossary of terms help round out this comprehensive and informative, fun guide. Jam-packed with wisdom and imaginative gameplay, this compact and portable reference book can easily be taken on the go to a tournament, to the park, or anywhere you're traveling. How a King Plays is the ideal companion for anyone whose passion for chess can't be contained.

Now a major motion picture starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo, directed by Mira Nair. The “astonishing” (The New York Times Book Review) and “inspirational” (Shelf Awareness) true story of Phiona Mutesi—a teenage chess prodigy from the slums of Uganda. One day in 2005 while searching for food, nine-year-old Ugandan Phiona Mutesi followed her brother to a dusty veranda where she met Robert Katende. Katende, a war refugee turned missionary, had an improbable dream: to empower kids in the Katwe slum through chess—a game so foreign there is no word for it in their native language. Laying a chess­board in the dirt, Robert began to teach. At first children came for a free bowl of porridge, but many grew to love the game that—like their daily lives—requires persevering against great obstacles. Of these kids, one girl stood out as an immense talent: Phiona. By the age of eleven Phiona was her country’s junior champion, and at fifteen, the national champion. Now a Woman Candidate Master—the first female titled player in her country’s history—Phiona dreams of becoming a Grandmaster, the most elite level in chess. But to reach that goal, she must grapple with everyday life in one of the world’s most unstable countries. The Queen of Katwe is a “remarkable” (NPR) and “riveting” (New York Post) book that shows how “Phiona’s story transcends the limitations of the chessboard” (Robert Hess, US Grandmaster).