Philadelphia Elementary Students Discover 'Greatness Lives in Me' as Author of New Children's Book Series Shares Vision and Mission

PHILADELPHIA – The elementary school students at Lewis C. Cassidy School knew they had a special guest this mid-March day, but they didn't realize the story they were about to hear would come to life before their eyes.
       The first-graders visiting the school library whispered to each other as they eye-balled the woman and young girl. They stared and pointed. Finally, one student blurted out the question on all of their minds.       
       “Are you the girl in the book?” 
       Indeed it was Aria, the real-life second-grader who is the focus of the children's book “Aria's Crown,” the first installment in the Sisters for Life, Best Friends Forever series. The books are based on the triumphs and trials, the pride and prejudice that author Bettinita Harris' two granddaughters – Aria and Bria – encounter while growing up black in America.
       Harris, a former editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer, recently published “Aria's Crown,” which features life lessons that encourage young readers to embrace their ethnicity and build self-esteem. It is told from the viewpoint of a grandmother teaching her granddaughter about the importance of defining herself.
         Harris created the multimedia company Colored Girl Wisdom, LLC. to showcase her mission of developing children's books that feature characters of color learning how to claim their place in the world. The second book, “I am Aria,” will be published in August.
       Harris is visiting more than a dozen School District of Philadelphia elementary schools involved in the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children's (WePAC) Library Cafe program to read her book and reinforce the group’s goal of spotlighting books whose main characters reflect the schools' predominantly minority student bodies. WePAC has renovated and re-opened the library at each of the schools, and provides trained volunteers to operate them.
       As part of her school visits, Harris donates her books to each school. Her mission of encouraging students to embrace their identity includes offering a free copy of “Aria's Crown” to those who complete a writing assignment after reading the book from the school library. The purpose, she said, is to provide a way for young students to gain access to the book and share it with others in their community.
       “There are more books that feature African-American characters available today,” Harris said, “but what good is it if we can't get the books into the hands of children who can benefit most?”   
       Harris' goal in the school visits is to help students quickly make the connection between the characters in the book and what they see before them – Harris as Queen-A, complete with her fancifully decorated "crown," and Aria.
       “I want to teach my granddaughters – Aria and Bria – life lessons about confidence, standing up for what you believe and loving yourself,” Harris said. “My hope is that girls around the world with similar hues will learn – sooner than I did – that their crowns are already bought and paid for. All they have to do is put them on and straighten them.”
       And putting on their crowns is what students did. Each child received a blank paper crown on which they wrote inspirational words describing themselves – Smart, Strong, Leader, Beautiful, Queen, King, Helper, Good Reader, Friend – and attached eye-catching decorations. The learning activity concluded with the group chanting phrases of self-esteem and affirmation: “Greatness lives in me! My possibilities are endless! Nobody can stop me!”
       Harris' tour of Philadelphia elementary schools to conduct readings of “Aria's Crown” will continue Wednesday, May 8 at Lea Elementary School, 4700 Locust St., Philadelphia, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 15 at Add B. Anderson School, 1034 South 60th St., Philadelphia, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
       Interested media should contact agent Nathan Huang at 610-733-8420 or coloredgirlwisdom@gmail.com.  For additional information, visit www.coloredgirlwisdom.com.