It felt so good to be back at Rutgers last week! I walked into the Rutgers
Athletic Center and from the moment I stepped in the building I saw so many
familiar faces. The reception I received was amazing but I was not really
surprised because Rutgers has always had amazing fans. It was here that my
basketball foundation was established and so it was a great honor for me to
go back to Rutgers and promote my new book.
The Adventures of Cree and Scooter is a series geared toward children aged
4 to 8, and it exposes readers to various cultures in an age appropriate
manner. Oscillating between the spheres of reality and fantasy, this book
connects readers to the two main characters, Cree and Scooter, as they
navigate their way through many countries across the globe while Cree
dreams in her bed at night. Together Cree and Scooter travel to countries
such as China, Egypt, Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, India, Japan and many
more to experience the richness and uniqueness of many cultures of the
world.
In Cree and Scooter's outrageous adventures, each book in this
series showcases some 'travel mishaps' and humor into the storyline to
engage the audience. Cree and Scooter differ from traditional children's
books, as it infuses academic learning into fun adventures. This series of
books includes opportunities for readers to learn world geography, history,
key words from different languages, and many different cultural
customs.
Imagine a world where all our children can read well. That is what
I am trying to do with this book: encourage early literacy and have
children engaged in what they are reading. My passion for travel and
learning about what the different countries/cultures have to offer is the
inspiration behind this book. Basketball has opened my world to experience
a host of different countries and cultures. All the cultural experiences I
have encountered have broadened my perspective on life. Global exposure and
knowledge of the world has sharpened my learning skills. I have gained
higher proficiency in foreign language and have adapted a greater respect,
understanding and appreciation of others. My opportunities have been unique
and for that I am grateful.
In addition to encouraging early literacy, I also want to ignite a love for
travel and exploration. I want to form an appreciation for the world we
live in, its languages, cultures and history. It is my belief that global
exposure will enhance the lives of others beginning with our youth. My
vision is to implement global education to our youth at an early age
through the release of my children's series, The Adventures of Cree and Scooter.
I have weaved a number of educational
fact/elements into the story in a fun and exciting way so that the reader
hardly realizes they are learning. I want kids to be able to travel around
the world without leaving the comfort of their living room, engaging their
imagination and sparking their interest. The first book in the series
begins on the continent of North America, in the country of Canada: Cree and Scooter Hit the Slopes in British Columbia.
So now I leave Rutgers once again, but as always, I take the experiences
and lessons learned from my time here along with me for future journeys.
Like Cree and Scooter, I let my imagination guide me to places, both new
and familiar. Now I return home in time for the holidays.