The story of John Albert Wilkat, a young man with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, as told by his mother who shares the joys and heartaches he brought to her life and the positive effect he had on others.

One of the few books of its kind, Acting Up and Getting Down brings together seven African American literary voices that all have a connection to the Lone Star state. Covering Texas themes and universal ones, this collection showcases often-overlooked literary talents to bring to life inspiring facets of black theatre history. Capturing the intensity of racial violence in Texas, from the Battle of San Jacinto to a World War I–era riot at a Houston training ground, Celeste Bedford Walker's Camp Logan and Ted Shine's Ancestors provide fascinating narratives through the lens of history. Thomas Meloncon's Johnny B. Goode and George Hawkins's Br'er Rabbit explore the cultural legacies of blues music and folktales. Three unflinching dramas (Sterling Houston's Driving Wheel, Eugene Lee's Killingsworth, and Elizabeth Brown-Guillory's When the Ancestors Call) examine homosexuality, a death in the family, and child abuse, bringing to light the private tensions of intersections between the individual and the community. Supplemented by a chronology of black literary milestones as well as a playwrights' canon, Acting Up and Getting Down puts the spotlight on creative achievements that have for too long been excluded from Texas letters. The resulting anthology not only provides new insight into a regional experience but also completes the American story as told onstage.

Jane is a young woman with Down syndrome who dreams of a career on the stage. She lives with her devoted mother, Elaine, who thinks Jane's goals are unrealistic. New to town is Bob, the newly widowed, alcoholic father of Max, who is also a young man with Down syndrome. Jane meets Max at the musical theatre class she attends weekly, along with eight other Down syndrome students. A romance develops, not without its many obstacles. Without her mother's knowledge, Jane gets cast in a local musical revue and is confronted with the real world her mother tried to shield her from. With twists and turns, challenges and triumphs, Jane, and everyone around her, experiences the growth that naturally occurs when one moves out of their comfort zone and reaches for their dream. The result is stunning and surprising.

From the illustrator of the #1 smash hit The Day the Crayons Quit comes a humorous, resonant tale about the value of shared experiences. A penguin has wings for a reason . . . doesn't he? Having a best friend with his own airplane is one thing, but actually experiencing what it feels like to fly by himself? Here is one penguin who believes this is precisely what he needs to feel complete. Only . . . if flying by himself is so wonderful, then why does he feel so empty? Because some experiences are better shared. (And penguins are much happier on the ground.) Oliver Jeffers delivers the perfect companion to his much-loved Lost and Found. Penguins everywhere will take flight in delight.

Failure is just one step on the path to success. Failure is not only a possibility for learners during these challenging times, but a productive, concrete way of gaining ground. How can parents and educators teach kids to turn failure into progress toward success? This revised edition of the beloved bestseller, Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight, has sensible answers, including both what to say and what not to say to truly help kids self-motivate and become independent, lifelong learners. Rich with fresh insights, this new edition offers a deeper understanding of how motivation works along with new, practical, research-driven strategies for spurring learners to thrive. It features: The latest research on motivation theory, persistence, self-regulation, grit, and a growth mindset in learners. An expanded focus on equity and culturally responsive approaches to ensure that all learners maximize their full potential. A new chapter on giftedness, an updated discussion guide, videos available via QR codes, and a robust companion website. Kids are bound to stumble and fall, but by capitalizing on knowledge and the latest research on motivation, we can equip them to stand up and move forward, pointing them on the route to success.

Serve Up Coach Down is Nathan Jamail's most impactful and contentious book yet. It debunks the myths of servant leadership that other books sell, namely that leaders in the middle must serve down to their people and defend up to their bosses. This is the exact opposite of what they should do: serve up to their bosses and coach down to their people. And it is costing them their power every day. 98% of leaders are leading from the middle, meaning they have a boss or bosses they answer to and employees they lead. From senior vice presidents to front-line managers, they should be the most powerful leaders in any organization. They are responsible for alignment, speed of change, buy-in, belief, accountability, and execution. Yet they often struggle with all of that by getting their teams to step up and winning approval from those above them. Why? Because they are serving down and defending up. Serve Up Coach Down addresses the key issues and obstacles that prevent leaders in the middle from owning the power that should drive their, their team's, and their organization's success and gives organizations the greatest competitive advantage they can have--speed of change--by creating leaders who their bosses can count on and who make their employees better. Want an organization with strong leaders and organizations based on a strong team culture built on strong leaders developing other strong leaders? Serve Up Coach Down is for you!

No longer is pregnancy a repulsive or shameful condition in Hollywood films, but an attractive attribute, often enhancing the romantic or comedic storyline of a female character. Kelly Oliver investigates this curious shift and its reflection of changing attitudes toward women's roles in reproduction and the family. Not all representations signify progress. Oliver finds that in many pregnancy films, our anxieties over modern reproductive practices and technologies are made manifest, and in some cases perpetuate conventions curtailing women's freedom. Reading such films as Where the Heart Is (2000), Riding in Cars with Boys (2001), Palindromes (2004), Saved! (2004), Quinceañera (2006), Children of Men (2006), Knocked Up (2007), Juno (2007), Baby Mama (2008), Away We Go (2009), Precious (2009), The Back-up Plan (2010), Due Date (2010), and Twilight: Breaking Dawn (2011), Oliver investigates pregnancy as a vehicle for romance, a political issue of "choice," a representation of the hosting of "others," a prism for fears of miscegenation, and a screen for modern technological anxieties.