In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Nerf, Reyn Guyer. Follow the story of Guyer from his early collaboration inventing the game Twister, to the Nerf indoor ball, Nerf Football, and Nerf Blaster. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about Nintendo innovator Hiroshi Yamauchi. Follow the story of Yamauchi as he takes over his family's playing card manufacturing company and transforms it into the video game powerhouse responsible for Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, the Game Boy, and the WII. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of My Little Pony, Bonnie Zacherle. Follow the story of Zacherle from her early days as a greeting card illustrator to her development of My Pretty Pony and My Little Pony. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Lincoln Logs, John Lloyd Wright. Follow the story of Wright as he follows his famous father Frank Lloyd Wright into architecture, works on Japan's Imperial Hotel, and eventually invents Lincoln Logs! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Imagine learning product design from the originator of NERF and TWISTER, toy and game brands that have generated over $8 billion in sales. Could you gain business insights from someone whose company stormed the cutthroat music industry as an outsider and who now has a Grammy award, two CMA Song of the Year awards, and forty-six charted singles on the country and pop music charts? How would you like to pick the brain of a rule breaker who put his dyslexia to good use and formed a learning company that has given the gift of literacy to over 500,000 students all over the world? Now what if all three of those people were the same man? Reyn Guyer is among the most successful creative professionals of our time. He creates products, learning systems, musicals, companies, children’s stories and songs, and more. In Right Brain Red, he shares seven ideas that have worked for him throughout his blockbuster career in multiple creative fields. Reyn provides more than mere advice, because Right Brain Red isn’t just another business book. It’s a way to create and recognize opportunity, inspiring readers who want to make their own ideas a reality.

Basketball is the most popular participatory sport in the United States. As simple as the game often seems—throwing a ball through a hoop—there are many aspects of the game that go unnoticed. But with Basketball For Dummies, Second Edition, you’ll get the inside scoop on hoops. Whether you’re a player, a fan, or a coach, Basketball For Dummies, Second Edition will get you better acquainted to the game, so you can play it better, coach it smarter, or appreciate it more as a spectator. Former Notre Dame head coach Digger Phelps begins with the fundamentals and quickly moves up court from there. From playing a pick-up game to watching March Madness on TV to the excitement of the NBA Playoffs, Phelps has come up with a game plan that shows you how to have fun with the game, while you become familiar with it. By the final buzzer, you’ll have pulled down pointers on how to play the game, how to look good on the court, how to coach it, how to watch it, ho w to strategize, and even how to talk trash on the playground. Within these pages, you’ll also discover how to: Suit up for the court Get into basketball shape Play effective offense and defense Use signature moves from NBA greats Shoot quality free-throws Join fantasy leagues and get great stuff online From the basics to the latest coaching drills and techniques, this friendly reference offers you expert advice on the plays, strategies, and moves on and off the court—from high school to college hoops, to the WNBA, and beyond.

Tracing developments in toy making and marketing across the evolving landscape of the 20th century, this encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference guide to America's most popular playthings and the culture to which they belong. From the origins of favorite playthings to their associations with events and activities, the study of a nation's toys reveals the hopes, goals, values, and priorities of its people. Toys have influenced the science, art, and religion of the United States, and have contributed to the development of business, politics, and medicine. Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia documents America's shifting cultural values as they are embedded within and transmitted by the nation's favorite playthings. Alphabetically arranged entries trace developments in toy making and toy marketing across the evolving landscape of 20th-century America. In addition to discussing the history of America's most influential toys, the book contains specific entries on the individuals, organizations, companies, and publications that gave shape to America's culture of play from 1900 to 2000. Toys from the two decades that frame the 20th century are also included, as bridges to the fascinating past—and the inspiring future—of American toys.