Navel String

by Dr. Pauline Felicia Baird, Dr. Gillian Richards-Greaves (Foreword)

When was the last time you thought of the navel string? Yes, that dried-up umbilical cord! And what family stories have you heard about it? Tales of this small body part feature prominently in the Caribbean and African diaspora narratives. Children often hear adults say, “mih navel-string bury right ‘ere.” Follow the conversations of Kay in America, Dee in Antigua, Marlon and Uncle Edwin in Guyana, and Prince Fuareke in Cameroon as they embark on a thrilling mission to unlock the secrets of the navel-string. How can we learn from them? What mysteries do their navel string stories hold? This book is for everyone. It can be read alone, with a class, or with a family. Groups can organize a performance, too! In the end, join the conversations at the prompting of Willy the Water-frog.

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 3, 2020