GARY, Ind., Dec. 5, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- History determines who we are and where we come from. It gives us our individual identities and signifies that the actions we did in the past greatly affect where we are at present. History, in a nutshell, is something worth looking back to. The current issues of apartheid and racism lead us to question the history of the African people and the birth of the African-American race. With a new children's book by Dionne Champion and Sherice Grant, let The Spirit of the Baobab Tree take you to a sweeping journey back in time to witness the bloody battles of Africans - and the evolution of the African-American history and culture.
The Spirit of the Baobab Tree is a richly colored fictional storybook based on historical facts and events. It tells the magical story of Jelani, a nine-year old African boy who was forcibly taken away from his family in Africa to live in a foster home in the United States. As an escape to the harsh realities of life, he spends his time drawing magical places and beings in his sketchbook.
One day in school, while the teacher was out, a mystical storyteller appears from within the pages of his sketchbook and stands in front of Jelani's class! With all the floating glitters around her, the lady looks exactly like an African princess. Introducing herself as Iyabo the Storyteller, she takes all the children back to the past and tells them the true story of their African ancestors - their struggles and their fight to achieve freedom. Through the mighty baobab tree, the secrets of the African history are revealed - giving Jelani and his friends a link to their ancestral past. Can Jelani's past give him the answers he needs to face obstacles in his future?
Educational and entertaining, The Spirit of the Baobab Tree is the right book to give your kids! The authors have creatively blended fantasy and history in this book, making it more attractive to them! Get a copy now! For more information, log on to www.Xlibris.com.
About the Authors
Author Dionne Champion, a professionally trained chemical engineer, dancer, and dance educator, founded DancExcel as an aggressive arts education program that exposes children to the arts in a way that helps them develop life skills and achieve academic success. She earned her B.S. with honors from Florida A&M University. Her work in engineering and strong interest in dance led her to Temple University where she studied the connections between motor skills and cognitive development as she earned a Masters in Dance Education.
Author Sherice Grant, a Boston native who began her dance training at the Roxbury Center for Performing Arts, brought a wealth of performance, teaching, and technical experience to the project. A graduate of Emerson College with a B.S. degree in TV/Video production, she has produced, directed, and choreographed for stage productions and commercials, as well as taught dance in Boston public and charter schools.
The Spirit of the Baobab Tree * by Dionne Champion and Sherice Grant
Publication Date: November 19, 2008
Picture Book; $21.99; 40 pages;
978-1-4363-7841-3 Picture Book Hardcover;
$31.99; 40 pages; 978-1-4363-7842-0
To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7479. Tear sheets may be sent by regular or electronic mail to Marketing Services. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7876 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.