All About Chez Alpha Books - February 2018
COMING SOON : Internationally acclaimed Chef Pierre Thiam says of the book Fisherman’s Blues , "I am truly grateful for this gorgeous and timely reintroduction to the world of my upbringing. A world that is too often ignored, and yet which contribution to tomorrow’s universal civilization could be priceless." Chez Alpha Books is working in partnership to organize the initial launch of Fisherman’s Blues by Anna Badkhen to be published in March 2018 by PenguinRandomhouse. It is an intimate account of life in a West African fishing village (Joal-Fadiouth, Senegal), tugged by currents ancient and modern, and dependent on an ocean that is being radically transformed. Fisherman’s Blues immerses the reader in a community navigating a time of unprecedented environmental, economic, and cultural upheaval with resilience, ingenuity, and wonder. Anna Badkhen contributes to The New York Times, Granta, The New Republic, and Foreign Policy. Her immersive investigations of the world’s iniquities have yielded six books of nonfiction, most recently The World Is a Carpet: Four Seasons in an Afghan Village and Walking with Abel: Journeys with the Nomads of the African Savannah.We'll keep you updated as we organize community events.
  YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON is a favorite story that shares a special message that we all need to hear. Every person matters! Young readers joined Chez Alpha Books on Saturday, January 27 to fly along with the narrator's red kite and see how one little kindness can ripple to show that we are all connected and what we do matters in the world.
"You're here for a reason, you certainly are.
The world would be different without you, by far.
If not for your hands and your eyes and your feet,
the world, like a puzzle, would be incomplete."
In this book bestselling and beloved author Nancy Tillman shows readers how each of us fits into life's big picture, and how the world would be incomplete without YOU in it.
 
With their minds and hearts, the story hour participants created beautiful art pieces explaining how they matter, and the reasons they are here in this big world: to be a good student, to be a star, loving my papa and more. Join us on Saturday, February 24 for the next story hour.

For the Fyes,
Writing is a Family Affair
Lucy Fye and her daughters– Anna, YaAdam and Jainaba Fye are from the African countries of Tanzania and Gambia. They are the authors of two children’s books: Princess Halima and the Kingdom of Affia. The Princess Halima project was inspired by the birth of the first grandchild in the family, Halima Bah. Halima is of Guinean, Gambian, Tanzanian descent. –... With such a rich combination of African culture and history, Lucy Fye and her daughters thought the best way to educate Halima about her many homelands was to start a book series through which she could discover her heritage, and also learn about the African continent as a whole. Continue reading at http://bit.ly/2D5pzbS
Getting Boys to Read
The number of boys who are proficient readers is significantly lower than it is for girls. This should be a matter of grave concern to both parents and teachers since there’s a direct correlation between reading and success in school and later in life. Parents and teachers can get boys to read more by first understanding why the problem exists and then taking practical steps to resolve it. Most important remember it doesn’t have to be just books. Reading is reading, no matter what it is. Magazines and comics are a great way to encourage boys to read as they tend to be visual learners. Use road signs, posters, television guides and shopping lists to get your boys reading.

Why Boys Don’t Read
There are a number of reasons why boys don’t read. According to Jane Katch, author of Under Deadman’s Skin, children begin reading earlier than they once did, which is a problem for boys who are less verbal and may develop more slowly than girls. In addition, boys are often more physically active than girls – making it more difficult for them to sit and read for extended periods of time. Another problem for boys is the type of material promoted in the classroom. Many teachers are women, and although they may make an effort to balance the types of reading material available, they often revert back to what appeals to females. The kinds of books that appeal to boys are often not considered acceptable reading material and as a result, they’re not promoted at school or at home. Peer pressure is another factor. As boys reach their teen years they may begin to think that reading isn’t cool. In addition, boys often don’t see their fathers and other male role models reading....Continue reading at http://bit.ly/2kmiMmr
What They Like! -
2017 Best Sellers
While our top reading list for 2017 may not resemble the New York Times, it reflects the interest of our diverse readers of all ages. For the second year in a row, Senegal by Chef Pierre Thiam and books by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie remain in the top group, while Neiba Je-sais tout arrived in November and soared to the top of children's book choice. Anna Hibiscus was a favorite because in each book it starts by saying, "Anna Hibiscus lives in amazing Africa!" We can't keep So Long a Letter, a classic work by Mariama Ba in stock and until today when visitors see this book they scream out, "I never knew this book was published in English! Pocket Rumi & The Palm Wine Drunkard by Amos Tutuola were embraced by young readers. Daughters Who Walk This Path and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks were a top choice by female readers who came back to say they were empowered by these choices. Nothings in Vain was the 1st time we sold many copies of a photography book, and the images of Dakar were breath taking. Behold the Dreamers has been with us for the past two years and it is another read that we order, re-order and order again. YES, we're having a good time reading in Senegal.

Literary Updates
Why a Celebrated Francophone African Writer Said No to President Macron's Francophone Project: In his speech to “Africa’s youth” in Ouagadougou, last November, France’s president Emmanuel Macron made a big deal of his plans to promote the French language around the world, with advice from African thinkers and others. Two weeks later, he invited Alain Mabanckou—the celebrated Congolese novelist and essayist—to take part. But Mabanckou—who divides his time between Paris and Los Angeles, where he is a professor at UCLA—said non. Continue reading: http://bit.ly/2DEUBuU
Nigeria’s Bibi Bakare-Yusuf: ‘Our Brand Is Growing - According to Cassava Republic Press founder Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, "In Africa, publishing involves doing everything yourself–there aren’t formal distribution systems. Of course, publishing in the West brings a new set of rigors and demands, given how structured and process-driven the business is. We’re already known as a new indie publisher in the UK and our brand is growing among our target readership. I am now focused on getting books into the hands of readers through international partnerships." http://bit.ly/2DGkSJh
New Book Suggestions @Chez Alpha
Somethings You Take Wherever You Go!
The Pocket Rumi at Chez AlphaBooks is a wonderful little book to stick in your pocket and refer to now and then to help you contemplate the timeless questions of life!
There’s plenty of good reasons why Rumi quotes continue to resonate with people 800 years later. The themes explored in his writings transcend time. His poems explore life in its various permutations: the beauty of it as well as the inspiration that exists all around us.

The Story Behind ‘Homegoing’ - A book to carry with you! Two years and going strong, we can never keep copies of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi on the shelves. Yaa Gyasi was a Stanford sophomore when she visited her native Ghana on a research mission. Seven years later, the debut novel her trip inspired became an international sensation. For a moment, Yaa Gyasi’s return to Ghana the summer after her sophomore year at Stanford seemed destined to be a disappointment. http://bit.ly/2Ffqo1O

Putting this in the must read category! Run get your copy... Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun by Sarah Ladipo Manyika. A subtle story about ageing, friendship and loss, this is also a nuanced study of the erotic yearnings of an older woman. Morayo Da Silva, a cosmopolitan Nigerian woman, lives in hip San Francisco. On the cusp of seventy-five, she is in good health and makes the most of it, enjoying road trips in her vintage Porsche, chatting to strangers...http://bit.ly/2GgiPcH
Education Update
California Lutheran University Pre-MBA International Student Pathways Program
On December 13, California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA), and ELS Educational Services, Inc. (Princeton, NJ) signed a new agreement to develop a graduate pathways program aiming to enhance the University’s international student educational experience and extend its global reach.  
A pathways program prepares international students for academic study at California Lutheran University by enabling them to take English courses and credit bearing courses simultaneously, allowing students to work toward their MBA program.
The California Lutheran University Pre-MBA Pathways Program, which is projected to welcome its first students in the fall of 2018, will offer a combination of programs and services such as intensive English language support, courses for degree credit, counseling, and support to assist students with acclimating both academically and socially.
Students come from all over the world to Cal Lutheran's School of Management. Our MBA program is recognized as "An Exceptional Value in U.S. Graduate Business Education."
Cal Lutheran is a highly-ranked university, where international students are enrolled with domestic students in classes conducted by a highly-skilled faculty.
Full-time MBA students share in a wide array of academic, professional, and cultural activities in an outstanding Southern California location and environment.

Chez Alpha Books is an official representative for ELS in Senegal - For more information contact The College Club at Chez Alpha Books / maizie@chezalphabks.com
[+221338206359]  [maizie@chezalphabks.com]  
[www.chezalphabks.com]