New children’s book makes Detroit history exciting

[caption id="attachment_11295" align="alignright" width="150"] Dr. Curtis Ivery[/caption]

Father-daughter writing team releases ‘Papa, Take My Hand’

Most of the stories that take place on Detroit’s famed Belle Isle will linger like fireflies on the front porch, shine in the moment and fade with laughter. But local author and WCCCD Chancellor Dr. Curtis Ivery is making sure some of the island’s summer magic is available to the children worldwide in the pages of a new chapter book for children ages 8-11 that he co-wrote with his daughter Angela. “Papa, Take My Hand” is an adventure into Detroit history, which follows the escapades of a curious boy, Jason, who strays too far from his grandfather’s Detroit home. The book, which includes a bit of local folklore and references to the city’s ties to the Underground Railroad, originally began as a letter to Ivery’s grandsons, but soon evolved into a larger project. “Initially, my daughter and I were just tossing around ideas that we wanted to share with my grandsons,” says Ivery. “But the more we talked, the more we realized that we needed to pass the information on to as many children as we could. Before we knew it, we had developed an entire storyline.” “It’s sprinkled with information,” Angela Ivery says. “But it has its share of mayhem too. In fact, Jason’s mishaps are the plot that drives the book and adds to the fun. Most kids will be able to relate.” All proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Curtis Ivery Literacy Foundation. — Staff report