Coota and the Magic Quilt
by Haywood Fennell Sr.
Tri-Ad Veterans League

Coota has thoughts of becoming a rap star that are changed when his mother takes him south to spend time with his grandmother, Miss Mattie, a retired school teacher who does not own a television, won’t call him by his nickname "Coota" and insists that he read. It is the first book in the trilogy, "The Coota Experiences." It engages the reader as "Coota" meets a new friend at the library, Cheryl, a sightless young girl, but one who can “see” the importance of history, respect and how to communicate in a dignified manner.

"Coota and the Magic Quilt," is a powerful self-published book that generates critical thinking due to the themes that are written throughout the book. It is a book that addresses many of today’s topics for our youth. The book has been receiving favorable comments from its readers that include educators, parents and youth. The book challenges youth to some critical thinking and to learn the importance of communicating without using racial slurs, ethnic slurs and not to call each other dog, build their vocabulary and learn about our history. It is a book with positive and revealing thoughts about triumphs over adversity.  "Coota and the Magic Quilt" comes with a Teacher’s Guide specially written by Dianne Christine Yarborough that is separately priced and can be used to teach not just youth, but adults as well.

Author Profile

Haywood Fennell, Sr. is a playwright and community activist residing in Boston, MA. He is presently writing the second book in the Coota Trilogy, “Coota and the Challenge”. Mr. Fennell’s goals are to teach the importance of literacy and our history as well as to understand compassionate communications by not using racial/ethnic slurs through critical thinking. He is the Principal writer of the Coota Literacy Enrichment Pilot Program for youth. He is a Vietnam Era veteran and attended both U/Mass Boston and Boston University studying Urban Planning.

Sitting, with youth standing in a line at the Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey’s Community Center and After School Program getting autographed copies of Coota and the Magic Quilt