Marguerite Tiggs Birt Illustrations by Peggy Blood
Marguerite Tiggs Birt, author of this real-life narrative, set in Savannah, GA, during her formative years (1939-1958) begins the story when she is six. The title, Mockingbird, Is That You? piques reader interest to discover whether someone is talking to a person or to a mockingbird? Cousin Bob and Cousin Liz are Marguerite's favorite cousins because she writes '...they always do things with me...'
8-13 year old readers. and those older will be comfortable with rich, descriptive text and poignant illustrations by noted artist, Peggy Blood, PhD. The author and artist provide images that nurture imagination as readers are taken to bygone times and places.
Some of the author's memories are about her 'nickname', and that scenic cruise on Captain Sam's boat to Daufuski Island, SC, and while there eating foods prepared by eighth generation 'Gullah-speaking' descendants of Yoruba People. She remembers walking with Cousin Liz in her garden while she cuts roses and honeysuckles for Marguerite's mother.
Some children in nuclear families may lack such family relations because their grandparents, aunts, or cousins live far away. Through engaging language and vivid imagery, the author brings young readers along to share in her experiences. This non-fiction story is carthargic and entertaining. As time pass Cousin Bob's life-altering episode occurs and the story becomes somber. Maximum reader interest continues as he responds to crisises with dignity.
For over forty years the author enjoyed teaching and learning as an early childhood educator in NJ, NY, CT, and GA. Higher education experience include assistant professor: Farmingdale College of Technology Farmingdale, NY; York College Jamaica, NY; adjunct professor; Queens College Flushing, NY; Armstrong Atlantic State University Savannah, GA.
Significant professional accomplishments:
Presenter: International Conference of Black Social Workers, Cairo, Egypt; Panelist: People to People Delegate US/China International Early Childhood Conference, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Participant: Savannah State University International Study Program Ghana, West Africa
Awards:
American Association of University Women, Action-research Fellowship, East-West Center for Asian Studies, Hawaii; National Peace Corp Global Teacher of the Year; International Reading Association Conference (Small Interest Group). Las Vegas; Georgia Fulbright-Hayes Scholar Armstrong Atlantic State University International Education Program Johannesburg, South Africa
Publications:
Effects of Transciency Upon the Development of Elementary School Pupils (1987)
Perfect Connections: Memoir of an A.M.E. Minister's Wife (2003)
Foolish Pleasures (2006)
Mockingbird, Is That You? is the author's first book for young readers.
Education:
Certificate: Institute of Children's Literature West Redding, CT
Ed.D. Early Childhood Education Rutgers The State University
M.A. Early Childhood Education Teachers College Columbia University
B.S. Child Development Savannah State University
Marguerite relocated to Savannah, GA.
It's 1945 and World War 11 is over. Marguerite's father, an army soldier was injured in combat and is hundreds of miles away from Savannah in a veterans hospital in Maryland. Now, her mother is head of the family and grateful that Cousin Bob and Liz Heyward live only three streets away; close enough for her youngest child to visit.
When I was six years old I remember walking alone to visit them. I took a short-cut path called 'the bottom' that was filled with box turtles, and fat, black caterpillars. When I reached the clearing below the side of their house, I saw Cousin Bob sitting on the porch with his back to me. By the time I was eight I secretly wondered how he always knew it was me without turning around.
One day, shaking with laughter, he tells her. But, there's much more to discover. Once, while sitting with her cousins at their dining room window looking in the distance at the horizon of the Savannah River, Cousin Bob yells:
"Lawdy! Lawdy! those some mighty big ships! Seem small from this window don't they? But they're GIANT cargo ships from far away places in the world... you're gonna' visit those places one day."
She believed him.
Cousin Liz grew honeysuckles and pink roses. They surrounded their house with fragrance. In the summer, when the windows were opened, and slow, lazy breezes moved the sheer curtains, even the inside of the house was perfumed. Every Sunday her cousin gathered bunches of sweet-smelling flowers, wrapped them in newspaper and tied the bundle with cord until it looked like an icecream cone.
"Take these home to your Mother," she said.
Soon Marguerite discovered a different world lay beyond her street and her cousins' white house at the end of Pounders Avenue. They took her cruising on a paddle wheel boat to Daufuski Island, South Carolina. On the way to the isolated island, Cousin Bob points to a bluff and tells her about Waving Girl, the story of a young Savannah lady who fell in love with a mariner while he was in harbor.
Finally, the boat docks and eighth generation descendants of Nigeria, West Africa's
Yoruba People, set up a colorful feast of foods for sale, and everything is seasoned their 'African way'!
"They speak a different way over here called, 'Gullah' and don't like you to be uppity, so who ever speaks to you, speak back," Cousin Bob said.
Later, when she is older, she notices Cousin Bob's eyes.
"What's the matter with your eyes Cousin Bob?"
She was not prepared for his answer. Cousin Bob kept on swinging and talking, but Marguerite became frightened, so she said nothing else.
