Books

BOOK CORNER: New children’s book offers simple, timeless life lessons

WAVE NEWSPAPERS — “Raised Up by Mrs. Manly & Her L’s” is a new children’s book by Sandra Evers-Manly with illustrations by Wendell Wiggins.

Published

7 years ago

February 8, 2019

Oakland Post

By Marissa Wells

“Raised Up by Mrs. Manly & Her L’s” is a new children’s book by Sandra Evers-Manly with illustrations by Wendell Wiggins.

[/media-credit] Sandra Evers-Manly

Inspired by the author’s mother, “Raised Up by Mrs. Manly & Her L’s” shares life lessons for raising caring, confident children.

“The book reminds us of those small basic things that make human decency good,” Evers-Manly said.

Inside the book, Manly-Evers shares one-word lessons that begin with the letter “L” such as love, listen, learn, lift, lean, lead, laugh and live that Mrs. Manly used as a foundation for raising her family.

“With my book, I seek to spotlight the long-lost traditions of basic kindness, community-building and love, and extend the legacy and undeniable imprint left by my mother for generations to come,” Evers-Manly said.

“Raised Up by Mrs. Manly & Her L’s” is intended for parents, children, educators and anyone who plays a role in raising, supporting and encouraging young persons.

One thing Evers-Manly likes most about her book is that it begins and ends with the topic of love.

“I’ve always been taught that the greatest thing in the world is love, loving somebody, and loving yourself and so I think for me, to have my mom always talk about the importance of love was so wonderful,” she said.

The book will interest readers of all backgrounds as it highlights the importance of neighborhood, family, listening, and learning. Through the examples shared in the book, readers will be inspired to love and lift others, be leaders, live their best lives, and remember to find time to laugh.

“By sharing the simple, timeless lessons of Mrs. Manly’s L’s, I hope this simple well-worn, proven example of family, motherly impact, and self-confidence will serve as a guide to daily living and caring for one another,” Evers-Manly said.

In addition to being an author, Evers-Manly works full-time in the aerospace industry. She is also the founder of the Black Hollywood Education & Resource Center.

“Raised Up by Mrs. Manly & Her L’s” is available for $21.95 via Amazon or seminspirationals.com, or at Eso Won Books in Leimert Park. All proceeds from sales of the book are being donated to charity.

This article originally appeared in the Wave Newspapers.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

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4 days ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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BOOK REVIEW: Let Me Be Real With You

At first look, this book might seem like just any other self-help offering. It’s inspirational for casual reader and business reader, both, just like most books in this genre. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll spot what makes “Let Me Be Real With You” stand out.

Published

1 week ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Book cover of Let Me Be Real With You and author Arshay Cooper. Courtesy of HarperOne.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Author: Arshay Cooper, Copyright: c.2025, Publisher: HarperOne, SRP: $26.00, Page Count: 40 Pages

The hole you’re in is a deep one.

You can see the clouds above, and they look like a storm; you sense the wind, and it’s cold. It’s dark down there, and lonesome, too. You feel like you were born there — but how do you get out of the deep hole you’re in? You read the new book “Let Me Be Real With You” by Arshay Cooper. You find a hand-up and bring someone with you.

In the months after his first book was published, Cooper received a lot of requests to speak to youth about his life growing up on the West Side of Chicago, his struggles, and his many accomplishments. He was poor, bullied, and belittled, but he knew that if he could escape those things, he would succeed. He focused on doing what was best, and right. He looked for mentors and strove to understand when opportunities presented themselves.

Still, his early life left him with trauma. Here, he shows how it’s overcome-able.

We must always have hope, Cooper says, but hope is “merely the catalyst for action. The hope we receive must transform into the hope we give.”

Learn to tell your own story, as honestly as you know it. Be open to suggestions, and don’t dismiss them without great thought. Know that masculinity doesn’t equal stoicism; we are hard-wired to need other people, and sharing “pain and relatability can dissipate shame and foster empathy in powerful ways.”

Remember that trauma is intergenerational, and it can be passed down from parent to child. Let your mentors see your potential. Get therapy, if you need it; there’s no shame in it, and it will help, if you learn to trust it. Enjoy the outdoors when you can. Learn self-control. Give back to your community. Respect your financial wellness. Embrace your intelligence. Pick your friends and relationships wisely. “Do it afraid.”

And finally, remember that “You were born to soar to great heights and rule the sky.”

You just needed someone to tell you that.

With a willingness to discuss the struggles he tackled in the past, Cooper writes with a solidly honest voice that’s exceptionally believable, and not one bit dramatic. You won’t find unnecessarily embellished stories or tall tales here, either; Cooper instead uses his real experiences to help readers understand that there are few things that are truly insurmountable. He then explains how one’s past can shape one’s future, and how today’s actions can change the future of the world.

“Let Me Be Real With You” is full of motivation, and instruction that’s do-able for adults and teens. If you need that, or if you’ve vowed to do better this coming year, it might help make you whole.