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Chris Navalta

@chrisnavalta

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📚 Professional Storyteller @zeitgeistpublishing / @penguinrandomhouse
🎮 Gaming PR @ubisoft
🌏 World Traveler
📍 Bay Area

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Assassins are … #AllElite

🥷 ⚔️
#AEW #AssassinsCreed by @chrisnavalta

tl;dr

One year ago today, my first children’s book, Basketball Stars, was released through @zeitgeistpublishing and @penguinrandomhouse.

Looking back, I still can’t believe how far this journey has taken me.

There were nights, weekends, and holidays spent writing these stories, followed by numerous rounds of edits, then finally and the surreal moment of seeing the cover for the very first time. Every step reminded me that creating a book takes far more than putting words on a page.

I hoped the book would find an audience. Instead, it exceeded anything I imagined. It debuted at No. 1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases list and has taken me from state to state, morning show to morning show, not to mention handing copies to current and former players at NBA Summer League.

But the best part has been meeting the young readers at school assemblies and sharing my love for basketball and reading. Hearing them tell me which player was their favorite, watching them try the signature moves from the book, and seeing their excitement has been more rewarding than any ranking or milestone.

Basketball Stars has opened doors I never expected—including the opportunity to write a second book (and maybe even a third… more on that another time). More than anything, it’s reminded me that it’s never too late to chase a dream you’ve had for years.

Thank you to everyone at Zeitgeist and Penguin Random House for believing in me. Thank you to every parent, teacher, librarian, bookstore owner, coach, and young reader who picked up a copy.

And happy first birthday, Basketball Stars. Here’s to the next chapter. by @chrisnavalta

Thank you @sandynavalta for teaching me how to tie a bow tie … and for showing me how to do the Red Carpet “pivot!” 😂

📸: PictureGroup by @chrisnavalta

Happy Halloween-hausen …

#Danhausen #WWE by @chrisnavalta

CONGRATULATIONS, Consolo & @ca_millionaire!! Such a night to remember! Love, y’all!! by @chrisnavalta

New NBA season loading for @garydwayne and the @Warriors!

How did he react when I showed him one of his childhood photos - which turned out to be his first basketball card? 🥹

#DubNation #LetsGoWarriors #NBAOpeningNight by @chrisnavalta

✨ Book Review ✨

Thank you so much to @zeitgeistpublishing and @chrisnavalta for the physical copy of this book to read and review!

Title: Basketball Stars: Stories and Skills from the NBA’s and WNBA’s Best Players
Author: Chris Navalta @chrisnavalta
Illustrator: Anderson Carman @andersoncarman
Release Date: Available now!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a great book for young basketball fans! Ten men and women basketball greats are highlighted in this book. Each player has an illustration, a quick facts page, a story about how they became a great player, and information about their signature skill. I love that the signature skills are broken down into steps, so the basketball fans reading the book can give them a try along with reading about them. I think children reading this book will be inspired to follow their dreams and practice their basketball skills!

#BasketballStars @zeitgeistpublishing #partner by @chrisnavalta

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the students at @mark.day.school to share some of the stories behind my two children’s books, Basketball Stars and Inspiring Stories of Soccer Greats!

While the athletes featured in these books have achieved incredible success, many of them also faced very real personal struggles along the way. Whether it was overcoming a learning disability, being told they couldn’t play their sport, growing up in an unstable environment or facing other challenges, these athletes showed perseverance, determination and commitment to achieve their dreams.

That was the message I hoped to share with the students: No matter what obstacles you face, you can overcome challenges, believe in yourself and work toward your goals.

A huge thank you to the wonderful staff at Mark Day for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to speak to the entire school. I had a great time meeting everyone and hope the students enjoy the books! And thank you to my friends at @bookpassage for helping arrange this visit!

Happy reading! 🏀⚽📚

#ChildrensBooks #Author #SchoolVisit #ReadingIsFun #schoolassembly by @chrisnavalta

Over the weekend, the @gpiifoundation, founded by @garydwayne and led by @msmonique3 and @raquel_monique_, held its annual fundraiser!

The foundation is doing important work to raise awareness about dyslexia and provide resources—including early screening, detection and certified assessments—for kids and young adults with language-based learning challenges.

And this year’s theme was a perfect fit: Draft Day! 🏀

Guests experienced an interactive live Draft Board, where generosity turned into action. Every child “drafted” by a donor will receive funding toward comprehensive psychoeducational and dyslexia evaluations.

The result? More than $220,000 raised over the weekend—surpassing last year’s total! 🙌

Congratulations to the entire GPII Foundation and Payton family on an incredible and impactful event. It was inspiring to see so many people come together to help give kids the resources they need to better understand—and embrace—the way they learn.

Looking forward to next year! 📚🏀

#DubNation #DyslexiaAwareness #DyslexiaEducation #Nonprofit #GPIIFoundation by @chrisnavalta

Happy #NationalReadaBookDay! Do you wanna give your child a brake from screens and digital noise? I might have a couple of books in mind.

#Bookstagram #Author #ReadAbook #ChildrensBook

🎥: @julspoblete by @chrisnavalta

Happy birthday to the most classy, graceful and resilient person I know. @SandyNavalta I hope you know just how much you are loved! I’m so proud to be your husband!! I love you always! by @chrisnavalta

The fact that we used to have @106kmel #SummerJam outdoors back in the day is a reminder that we used to be a proper society! #90s #throwback #90shiphop #90snostalgia by @chrisnavalta