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These books can save lives

These books are a combination of history book, storybook and coloring book, three books in one. The coloring book format is affordable for everyone, or large groups, and it allows the child to participate. These books save lives, bring families together and breaks down the barriers of race and color. These books are a must for a multicultural education for children 3 to 12 years of age. There are four books to date including the new book, "Malcolm X the Butterfly", the story about Malcolm X told in a children's book format.

PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC

A local TV cameraperson is using coloring books with hopes to create understanding between area residents of dif- ferent racial backgrounds.    Kenneth Sims, 43, is using his two books "Catain Free- dom" and "Araminta: A Story About Hariett Tubman," in an effort to bridge the gap between local whites and blacks.    "The coloring books are designed to illustrate people struggling for freedom against slavery. They can be fund- raisers for any group in any community anywhere. They also provide exercises in liter- acy groth and vehicles for Black American children to

develop images of people who look like themselves in heroic or winning situations," said Sims, who is an advocate of positive multicultutal images.    Captain Freedom was origi- nally published in 1984, but has been re-released with the seconf book about Tubman, one of the leaders in the Underground Railroad.    Sims wrote the stories and co-illustrated them with Leonard Darnell Walton.    At present five young people are helping to market the books but Sims has hopes that the books will be marketed by a sales force of 200 young people from many different area communities.

North Side resident Ken Sims displays coloring books he created. Harriet Tubman's real name was Araminta Ross Tubman. It was her father who taught her how to find her way through wooded areas, a skill which became crucial in her ability to lead slaves to freedom. Tubman never lost a slave on any of her 19 trips North despite $50,000 offered for her capture.    Although Captain Freedom's story is fictional it is drawn from history, specifically Documents Illustrative of the History of the Slave Trade to America, by Elizabeth Doonan.    The books were written to appeal to children older than nine years of age.   Sims points out that the Pittsburgh area is rich in Underground Railroad history.    The cameraman wants to establish a fund for the distri- bution and sale of the books.