Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 7 Pouches' Book Nook WRITTEN BY LENOR KRUK-MULLANAPHY Dr. Maurice Smith: "I am Noah the Great!" and "Uncle Charles and Me" Dr. Maurice Smith, author and educator, is a champion for children and young adults, dedica ng his life's work to them. "Inspiring the youth to go a er their dreams" is the fi rst phrase readers will see on his website. Smith, a Fredericksburg-area na ve, has a career in educa on. Star ng out as a soccer coach before becoming a teacher, he proceeded to earn a doctorate to become an administrator, which he has been for more than a decade. Smith has added another tle to his already robust resume—author. His children's books, "I am Noah the Great!" and "Uncle Charles and Me," will have youngsters enthralled by the characters and the messages in them. Both books are illustrated by Jordan Kincaid. With the country quickly changing, 10-year-old Noah wants to be part of that change in "I am Noah the Great!" The book tells how he inspires others and leads the protest for jus ce as he marches with his dad throughout Richmond, Virginia. Readers will proudly march along with Noah as he reaches greatness. An assistant principal at Prince Edward County Middle School in Farmville, Virginia, Smith also penned the book "Uncle Charles and Me." His fi rst children's book, it talks about the bond between an uncle and his nephew and the wonderful mes and memories they have. The book, part fi c on and part factual, is based on the fun mes Smith's oldest son, Myles, and his uncle spent in Norton and Big Stone Gap, Virginia. It centers on Myles when he was a fourth and fi h grader. Myles, who is now 22 and, in the military, s ll reminisces about the good mes he had there. Adventures like fi shing in the river, fi nding scorpions, riding bikes and cooking will have readers feeling they were there. "Chris an, Noah and Myles, who are my sons, are excited about the book," Smith says in "Spotlight on Authors" by Li Bridge Publishers. "They talk about how proud they are of me for wri ng the book." Smith has also been a scout master and is the founder of "Young Gentlemen for Life," an a er-school mentoring program. His most beloved role is "being the proud and dedicated father to three extraordinary young men," he says on his website. Living a peaceful, ac ve life, Smith enjoys jogging amid the scenic landscapes of Virginia.

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