September 3, 2007

Anancy in Perrine

Anancy storiesMiami, Florida (September 3, 2007)—Jamaican author, Geoffrey Philp, will be reading from his recently published children's book, Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories on Sunday, September 9, 2007. The reading which begins at 12:00 noon will be held at Church of the Ascension, 11201 SW 160 th Street, Miami, FL 33157.

"Although I have given readings in many churches, this is the first time I will be reading a children's book that I've written," said Philp. "Reading at the Church of the Ascension will give me an opportunity to connect with many Caribbean-American children and parents for whom Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories was written."


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.


"I hope to keep the family spirit alive and we'll have goody bags with crayons and "Memba Yuh Kulture" coloring pages for the children (courtesy of Jamaicans.com ) and door prizes for the grown-ups."


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 may 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. Geoffrey 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.



This Friday (9/7/07) African American author and MDC Professor, Joe McNair, on his latest work, Oshe Shango.


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