Purvis Atkinson

Over the next several months I will be releasing my latest work. It is a set of 3 basic singing books for children grades: K-2, 3-4, and 5+. These are simple yet technical. Students will learn the mechanics of singing. Each book also includes 5 complete songs with added notes to help your child sing the song correctly.

Making Good Choices reinforces values and moral behavior. Choices draws a distinct line between good and bad actions, helping students to understand the long term consequences of the two. It explains the importance of roles and relationships between a child and his parents, siblings, friends and teachers. Choices takes the various tools available to the average young student and helps him chart a course of success in life.

Performance is my first book and obviously my daughter, Maylyn, was my primary inspiration. I am very proud of this groundbreaking work. It came about after many years of watching my daughter perform and then teach. I've spoken to many of parents of my daughter's students and they are ecstatic about their child's progress. They say how happy their children are to sing, how there confidence has increased. So I wrote a book about it.

My Story:

I grew up in the late 50's and 60's, a poor black kid, in South Central Los Angeles. It was a time of great prejudice, violence and the birth period of some of the most soulful, uplifting music the world has experienced. I chose to follow the music. It was free, plentiful, mostly about love and peace. In elementary school I was introduced to the writings of Langston Hughes. His poem "Dreams," was the first piece of literature that impacted my life. Later I read Nikki Giovanni's works, my favorite poem of hers is "Like A Ripple on a Pond." Somewhere between high school and my first semester in college I read Jean Toomer's "Cane." It was the most magnificent book I ever read. The words were music with tempo, melody, rhythm and harmony. It remains a work of art. When I took my love of music and literature to the U.S. Navy I was happy to find a wonderful synergy. I served in the navy for nearly 30 years, not because I wanted to kill bad guys but because I wanted to protect everyone else. After 30 years in uniform I consider myself a humanitarian. About a year ago, after retiring from my second career-a mishap in corporate life, I began to write again. Now my goal is to produce books which educate and inspire children and young adults. Books can open the world to those beaten down by life, can help those who are lost find their way. Books can rekindle dreams. I hope my books help you realize your dreams.