Maria McNaught (Author)

Alex Haley's Roots popularized the study of one's ancestral history. Children share in the thrill of such discovery in the story of Malik, a third-grader who is given a school assignment of developing a family tree. Malik becomes excited about tracing his family heritage and past and begins his journey with a series of interviews with his relatives. Malik's grandmother not only tells him about their family, but she also gives him a very sacred and ancient Ashanti cloth from one of his ancestors. This book teaches the importance of family, of ancestral history, and of self-esteem.