Dreaming big, thinking big and playing big has always been a part of Mario Chalmers' life. But there was no way of knowing at the time that a high-school English assignment would someday lead to a published book, but that's exactly what happened for Mario and his mother, Almarie.
During his junior year at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska, Mario and other members of instructor Dorena Montgomery's English class were studying children¹s literature. Hoping to foster a better understanding of the genre, Montgomery asked her students to write their own children¹s books.
Little did Mario know, but his mother had a similar project she always wanted to work on, but, as a busy mother of two children, never had the time. With an idea and title already in mind, she encouraged Mario to develop the concept, and he took it from there. What developed was "Mario Chalmers' ABC's of Basketball," which focused on basketball basics, with each letter represented by a basketball term and its meaning. In his version, Mario used photographs of various professional and college players to serve as his illustrations.
The result was not just a good grade, but motivation from his teacher to do something more with the book. Through the years, the two tried to get their story published, but it never seemed to be the right time.
Despite a few setbacks, and even shelving the project for a time, the pieces eventually began falling into the place. And nearly 14 years later, the two are releasing, "Mario Chalmers' ABC's of Basketball," combining that early high school term paper assignment, Mario's passion for the game, and Almarie's loves of writing and teaching.
"Mario Chalmers' ABC's of Basketball" is a fun and lively story about Lil' Rio and his friends. Intended to inform and spark the interests of younger children, the book is also a great resource for older readers, and even parents, wanting to learn more about the game. It's also the perfect book for parents and children to read together. The story teaches children the ABCs of Basketball in a colorful, entertaining way. Written by NBA star Mario Chalmers and his mother, Almarie, "Mario Chalmers' ABC's of Basketball" features lively characters and illustrations by Emmanuel Everett. It will be the book you will want to read time and time again!
Author Biography:
Mario Chalmers acquired his love for basketball at age 3 thanks to a Nerf basketball and hoop, and brought home his first championship trophy from the local YMCA league at age 12. In high school he was named a McDonalds All-American. At the University of Kansas, "Rio" earned a starting position during his freshman year, and helped lead the Jayhawks to the Big 12 Conference title. Two seasons later, he was a key member of KU's National Championship team, and famously hit a 3-point shot with 2.1 seconds left in regulation of the title game, which has come to be known as "The Miracle Shot." Mario's success has continued throughout his NBA career, as he won back-to-back championships with the Miami Heat. Off the court, Mario is the founder of the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation, which supports the positive development of youth through sports and education, and also the funding breast cancer research and treatment initiatives. Almarie Chalmers is a certified professional life coach, as well as Mario Chalmer's proud mom. She's the founder of Speak Life (life-coaching for women), and the annual Speak Life With Word luncheons, focusing on mothers and female cancer survivors. Almarie and her husband Ronnie have been married for 38 years. Almarie serves as executive director of the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation, and helped develop Mario 's Closet, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. A 20-year veteran of the Anchorage (Alaska) School District, Almarie still finds time to work on her writing and attend her son's games. This is her second book. Her first book is entitled, "The Ball is in Your Court." Emmanuel Everett has always been an avid daydreaming doodler. Since early childhood, Emmanuel has known that the stage was set for a lifetime of creative cultivation.? Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska provided a unique landscape and culture that further inspired his artistic approach to life.?Whether creating and designing alongside small businesses or Fortune 500 companies, he continued to establish a progressive presence as a young artist and designer.?Emmanuel strives for continuous growth and exploration... creating one big idea at a time.
