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I Hope It Sparks Some Curiosity
Adventures of the Negassi Brothers follows two brothers who are transported through time in a traditional coffee ceremony to witness their family’s history. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
As a first generation immigrant, I wanted to create a story I could share with my sons, Isaiah & Azariah. A book that was timeless and relevant at any age of their lives. A story they could share with their own children in the future. It is also an introduction into their history. I hope it sparks some curiosity that grows into reading and learning more about themselves.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your characters life?
One of the most important memories for me was sharing stories with my own father. There were many stories about back-home and how he grew up. My love of history began with these stories.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The story had to capture the essence of our culture, it was important to incorporate coffee and the coffee ceremony. Our countries, Eritrea & Ethiopia, have thousands of years of history together and apart, it’s easy to get lost in politics and tribalism. It was important that I leave that out of the story and focus on the historical facts.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book will be a about our language, Tigrinya. A simple to read children’s book of our alphabet and common words. There are over 200 letter in our alphabet so I’ll have to think through the breakdown. It will be available Q2 of 2023.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Adventures of the Negassi Brothers
Adventures of the Negassi Brothers, written by Ezra Negassi, follows a pair of brothers Isaiah and Azariah. These two brothers desperately want to participate in a traditional coffee ceremony with their friends and family. However, this is not just any normal old coffee no. This coffee is extremely special and transports the brothers through the history of their ancestors and the background of their culture, connecting them to the very essence of their beings.
Encased in this short children’s book is a heap full of gorgeous history and is presented to us, the readers, uniquely. Once allowed to join in on the coffee ceremony, the brothers find they are magically transported with each sip to a different place and time in their family’s history. Allowing them to experience the beauty of their culture firsthand.
I believe learning about our family history and continuing traditions is essential regardless of anyone’s background. This is the main message the author has achieved whilst taking the reader on a thrilling and intriguing ride. The illustrations echo the news, helping the reader connect with the tone, setting, and environment. Such an easy and fast-paced read for any young reader would surely get young minds to ask questions about their backgrounds.
Adventures of the Negassi Brothers is an exciting children’s book that takes readers into the past to view part of African History and ancient civilization. They will learn about the importance of family tradition and the value of honoring the past. This would make a wonderful book for introducing a multicultural learning unit to a classroom.
Pages: 27 | ASIN : B0B44NL74Y
LITERARY TITAN 