On my bookshelf: Miss Lou: Louise Bennett and Jamaican Culture

Louise Bennett Coverley, ‘Miss Lou’, has for decades represented the ‘face’ of Jamaican culture, the essence of what it is to be Jamaican. As a poet, performer, storyteller, singer, actress, writer, broadcaster, folklore scholar and children’s television show host, she won hearts and souls for Jamaica with her humorous yet compelling performances worldwide.

It is Miss Lou, more than any other figure in Jamaica’s history, who showed that the language spoken by most Jamaicans – patois or Jamaican Creole – is worthy of respect.

In Miss Lou: Louise Bennett and Jamaican Culture, Mervyn Morris traces the life of this legendary Jamaican from early beginnings through to her local and international eminence, and discusses aspects of her work.

A listing of recommended books and recordings is an added feature of this worthy biography of Miss Lou.

Mervyn Morris is Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing and West Indian Literature at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He is the author of ‘Is English We Speaking’ and other essays (1999), Making West Indian Literature (2005) and six books of poetry, including I been there, sort of (2006).

Ian Randle Publishers:
https://www.ianrandlepublishers.com/miss-lou-louise-bennett-and-jamaican-culture.html

Last Day for FREE Download of Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories

Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories is now available on the Kindle, and today is the last day that is will be FREE. You read right, folks. FREE

Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories will be free until 10/6/21012.

Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories confronts the subject of bullying by using a well-known Caribbean folk tale, "Anancy, Snake, and Tiger," in the multicultural setting of Miami, Florida. Here's a summary of the story:

Jimmy Harrison loves school and his favorite subject is snack time! But when a new boy, Kevin, joins his class, he begins to pick on Jimmy and the rest of the children. What’s worse, he begins to take away Jimmy’s snacks. Jimmy doesn't want to be a tattletale, but he also doesn’t want to be bullied.

When Grandpa Sydney finds out that Jimmy is being bullied, he reads an Anancy story to Jimmy. Will the story help Jimmy to overcome Kevin's bullying?

And remember, you don't need a Kindle to be able to read the story. You can download any one of these apps for your Smartphone, computer, or table

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

So, head on over to Amazon get yourself a free copy of Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JYLDZO

***

Blog Disclosure Policy

Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot receives a percentage of the purchase price on anything you buy through links to Amazon, Shambala Books, Hay House, or any of the Google ads or Google Custom Search.

***

Disclaimer of Endorsement

The documents posted on this Web site may contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for visitors' convenience. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to other Web sites or agencies is not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.

Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this blog.

Using Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories to Discuss Bullying

Saying "No" to a Bully: Using Stories to Discuss Bullying

Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories

By Geoffrey Philp

Mabrak Books, 2012

Stories are one of the most effective ways of talking about sensitive topics such as bullying because they engage the moral imagination of children. 

Through the skillful use of narrative, children are able to grasp the consequences of actions and empathize with characters. This is a key element in the conversation because bullies quite often are unable to understand the consequences of their actions. Empathy and compassion even when directed at fictional characters are first steps.

Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories, which uses Caribbean folklore to illustrate valuable lessons about conflict resolution, teaches children that problems can be resolved by using their wits instead of their fists.

Synopsis:
Jimmy Harrison 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.

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

At the end of the presentation, the students will be able to:

• Define bullying
• Recognize forms of bullying
• Seek help if they are "targets" of bullies

Geoffrey Philp is the author of the children's books, Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories and Marcus and the Amazons, which was a featured book on the Kart Foundation's Reading List. A critically acclaimed author of thirteen books, Geoffrey's work been published in the Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories and the Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse. He has also won many awards for his poetry and fiction, including a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship, Sauza "Stay Pure" Award, James Michener Fellowships from the University of Miami, and in 2008, he won the coveted "Outstanding Writer" prize from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. As a former English and drama teacher at West Miami Middle Schools, Geoffrey has conducted writing workshops such as "How to Write Your Own Caribbean Folktale" and "Love Doesn't Have to Hurt (Domestic Violence).” He now teaches English and creative writing at Miami Dade College, where he is the chairperson of the College Prep Department.

How to Write Your Own Caribbean Folktale: Anancy Festival, 2012

Graphic: Christina Elizabeth Philp

As part of my contribution to the Anancy Festival in Pembroke Pines on June 9, 2012, I'll be conducting a workshop for children: How to Write Your Own Caribbean Folktale.

During the workshop, I'll be using some of the techniques that I've developed as a teacher in Dade County Public Schools and in the Poet-in-the-Schools program.

For the teachers, here's a part of the lesson plan:

Materials:

Exercise book

Pen

Pencil or pen

Blank paper for drawing

Students will understand the following:

• Folktales connect us with earlier generations who enjoyed the same tales.
• Folktales help us think about present situations we find ourselves in.
• Magic figures prominently in folktales.
• Folk tales can inspire readers to create original works of art.

The students will be able to do the following:

• Generate ideas and plans for writing by using brainstorming.
• Develop a draft of a folktale
• Edit a draft for word choice
• Submit a completed story
• Recognize and use verbs, adverbs, and adjectives in stories
• Identify the definition of folktale
• Understand and be able to identify the traditional elements in folktales
• Write a folk tale using Caribbean folktale characters

At the end of the process, the kids will write their own Caribbean folktale, which they will return to us via regular mail or e-mail. We hope to publish these stories in an online format.

We're gonna have a lot of fun.

Pembroke Pines/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida,
June 9th, 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
South Regional/Broward College Library
7300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
Admission: Free




***Blog Disclosure Policy


Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot receives a percentage of the purchase price on anything you buy through links to Amazon, Shambala Books, Hay House, or any of the Google ads or Google Custom Search.









***

Disclaimer of Endorsement


The documents posted on this Web site may contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for visitors' convenience. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to other Web sites or agencies is not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.


Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this blog.

New Blog: Lifelines - African Proverbs for Daily Living

Lifelines - African proverbs for daily living: "When the occasion arises, there is a proverb to suit it. (Proverb from Rwanda and Burundi)

Welcome to this space where we can talk at proverbs that we can relate to (or not), and proverbs that make sense to us (or not). Most of all we can discuss how proverbs make us think about life and living. We can also share experiences of proverbs that have provided us with lifelines or just the chance to reflect.

For more proverbs and for information on Lifelines: the Black Book of Proverbs, please visit us at www.lifelinesproverbs.com.

Enjoy!

***