CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION: GRANDPA SYDNEY'S ANANCY STORIES

Miami, Florida (June 6, 2007)—In commemoration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month 2007, award winning author, Geoffrey Philp, will be launching his recently published children's book, Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories, on June 30, 2007. The reading which begins at 10: 30 am will be held at Kara's Jamaican & Chinese Restaurant, 8120 Pines Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33024.

"From the time when my children were toddlers, I've wanted to write a children's book," said Philp. "And later when I worked for the Poet-in-the Schools program with Miami-Dade Public Schools and English teacher at West Miami Middle School, I taught the children how to write stories of their own because many children didn't have any way to connect with their parents.. At least on a story level, I'm hoping that Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories will give the parents a chance to begin talking with their children, and that teachers will have a relevant resource that will connect them to their students."

Set in the multicultural environment of South Florida, Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories is about a young Jamaican-American boy, Jimmy Harrison, who loves school and his favorite subject is snack time! But when a new boy, Kevin, joins his class, he begins to bully Jimmy and the rest of the children. What’s worse, he begins to take away Jimmy’s snacks. Using the wisdom from his Grandpa Sydney’s story about “Anancy, Snake, and Tiger,” Jimmy overcomes the class bully. And for one Sunday, he reunites his family for dinner.

Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories draws on the rich oral tradition of Anancy stories that are told and re-told in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean. These Anancy stories, which originated in West Africa, are rich sources of wisdom that have been passed down from generation to generation.

"The launch will be a real family affair and we'll have goody bags for the children and door prizes for the grown-ups. A little bit of everything for everyone," said Philp. "So if you can create the time, why not drop by and see us. We're going to have some fun."

Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories, the only children's book from the English-speaking Caribbean to address the issues of the Caribbean diaspora and bullying, may be used as a textbook 3rd-4th Grade Level Reading Level) during Caribbean-American Heritage Month or Black History Month.

The study guide at the back of Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories conforms to Bloom's Taxonomy and contains critical thinking activities for parents and teachers.

Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories ( Mabrak Books) may be purchased online @ http://www.lulu.com/content/877456.

Press Kits may be downloaded @ Geoffrey Philp's web site: http://geoffreyphilp.com/

About the Author: Geoffrey Philp is the author of Benjamin, My Son, Uncle Obadiah and the Alien, Twelve Poems and A Story for Christmas, and four poetry collections, including Exodus and Other Poems, Florida Bound, hurricane center, and xango music. He maintains a web site (http://www.geoffreyphilp.com/generic4.html) and a blog @ http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/. He teaches English at Miami Dade College and is the chairperson of the College Prep. Department at the North campus.

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For Educators, Librarians & Community Leaders

Review of Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories @ Amazon

For an overview of the cultural significance of Anancy in the Caribbean, please follow this link: Anancy

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