Business & Tech
Ardmore Civic Leader Publishes First Children's Book
Ardmore Progressive Civic Association president Nahjee Grant's book "Newie" is now available on Amazon.
What’s a newt to do when he wants to be a Broadway singer, but his family has other plans? Ardmore civic leader Nahjee Grant has the answer—and while you won’t find it in his new children’s book “Newie,” you can read about it in the upcoming sequel.
Grant, 24, is the president of Ardmore Progressive Civic Association, an active volunteer in community events in and around Ardmore, and now, a published author. “Newie,” a collaboration between Grant and illustrator Brian Oliver, is now available on Amazon.com.
The idea for the 44-page book hit Grant about two years ago.
“My name is Nahjee, but people used to call me ‘New’ when I was younger,” Grant explained. “So the idea of Newie just kind of came to me one day. I’d always sketch out ideas of an adventure story … and I pitched the idea to family and friends, and they all loved it.”
"Newie" tells the story of a young newt who thirsts for adventure, but whose dad wants him to be a tailor at the family business. The little guy gets a taste for what his life could be, and sets off on an adventure in New York City. The story ends in a cliffhanger: will Newie go back home, or will he try to make a name for himself in the Big Apple?
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You’ll have to wait for the next book in the series—likely available in Fall 2013, Grant said—to get the answer.
Grant hopes his book inspires kids “to realize their dreams and go for what they want to do in life … to follow their passions. … I think a lot of the things we tell kids growing up [are] embodied in the story of Newie.”
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Like Newie, Grant is following his passions. Aside from working on another book about a boy inventor and Aside from serving as the Ardmore Progressive president, he is also a member of Lower Merion School District’s Committee to Address Race in Education and founder of the ACES Initiative.
The ACES Initiative, which stands for All Children Equal Success, assists with food drives, book drives, as well as church and community events geared toward youth in Lower Merion and the Philadelphia community.
“My passion has always been guiding youth in a positive direction, the same way others did for me when I was younger,” Grant said. “It’s all part of giving back.”
“Newie,” written for kids ages 6-12, is available for $12.99 on Amazon.com.
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