photo courtesy of keelyvelani.com

One part of childhood everyone remembers are their favorite books; the characters, the story, and the lessons they taught. The new children’s book Davy Brown Discovers His Roots, by Keely Alexander and Velani Mynhardt Witthöft seeks to add a modern twist to the pool with a story about diversity and immigration.

Davy tells the story of young, Davy Brown, who thinks of himself as someone with no history, and his friends looking back to find their immigrant roots. In their search, Davy and his friends Carlos, Erika, and Amit discover that even the most seemingly typical people have exciting histories.

Find out more and authors reading after the jump:

While researching books on immigration, Witthöft, a South African immigrant herself, and Alexander, who has worked closely with immigrants, discovered that many immigration narratives tell immigration stories from a strictly historical or ethnic perspective, which sometimes leaves the reader on the outside looking in.

“We wanted to create a story that would blend the historic with the current to convey the message that we are all immigrants,” Alexander said. “In order to create understanding and tolerance, the immigrant experience needs to be relatable.”

The book is packed with modern, eye-catching artwork to keep things interesting, but also features important information on various types of visas and immigration paths—along with a handy reference guide.

Everyone has an immigration story—even you. Whether you came to this country in pursuit of a better life or your grandparents or great-grandparents came over on a boat with nothing but a dream, your story is an important thread in the fabric of the American tale. Sometimes we have to look back in order to look forward.

If you’re in NYC, the authors will be doing a signing and reading at Bluestockings Bookstore on Sept. 7th. 

Monday, Sept. 7tth, 1:00PM

Bluestockings Bookstore

172 Allen Street, New York, NY, 10002

(212) 777-6028

August 21, 2009 by akshay
Tags: b-activists, bluestockings, children's books, Davy Brown Discovers His Roots, discrimination, immigration, Keely Alexander, Velani Witthoft, xenophobia