Dominicans Dr. Dale Dangleben and Zenita Lee have collaborated on a project which resulted in the publication of a book called ‘Once Upon a Time in Dominica,’ which is also accompanied by a coloring book.
The book is meant to capture the activities of their childhood in Dominica.
Zenita Lee was born and raised in Grand Bay. She spent nineteen years there before migrating to the United States. She attended Wesley High School and became a teacher at the Tete Morne Primary School for two years. She has a firm belief in imparting knowledge on the young minds. Currently, Zenita works as a hospice nurse and occupational therapist assistant in Florida. Her faith in God has been her rock and life.
Dr. Dale Dangleben was born and raised in Pointe Michel where he attended the St. Luke’s Primary SchooI. He then went on to the St Mary’s Academy ( SMA ) and then Sixth Form College ( SIFOCOL). After a few years of teaching at SMA he migrated to the U.S and attended Hunter College in NYC. Subsequently, he went on to medical school at Penn State University College of Medicine. Currently, Dr. Dangleben is the trauma medical director at a trauma center in Pennsylvania.
Zenita Lee and Dale Dangleben met while on a medical mission to Dominica two weeks after hurricane Maria. They came down to deliver medical care where needed. The devastation to Dominica was heartbreaking and overall emotionally taxing on both of them. Upon return to the States, they decided to collaborate on this project as they reflected on their childhood growing up in Dominica.
“We did this work for the children of Dominica and the Caribbean as a whole,” the authors said in a statement. “This is meant to remind us of who we are and where we came from. No matter where we go these traditions and culture should always be a part of who and what we are. The world is forever changing before us and that’s ok and its fine to accept and embrace change as long as it’s for the better. However, don’t lose yourself in the journey and forget the roots. We want the children of the current generation to understand and appreciate the foundation that has been set and should not be lost. The technology around us may have changed but the discipline at the core should not be compromised. Take this trip with Zenita and Dale back in time in the Caribbean to the timeline of their childhood. God Bless Dominica.”
The collection also has a coloring book with educational activities.
The book can be purchased on Amazon HERE
The coloring book can be purchased HERE
See images from the book and authors below.
Wow, that’s a must read. Check it out.
Great Job!!! I will surely support!
If the title of the Book is “Once Upon A Time” that is an indication nothing in the book is true!
When I attended kindergarten in Dominica, I was thought that when it states “once upon a time” it is simple folk tale, something imaginary; so to read where a doctor’s book is entitled once upon a time is shucking!
Just shocking, is there any truth to what is written within “once upon a time” which never existed?
I doh know: I went to elementary School in Wesley Village in the 1950’s maybe by the time the doctor’s went to school; our nation school curriculum was no longer part of the British educational system, they were not taught that “once upon a time” anything which proceeds after that is fable!
Jealous much ? Sad reaction from an old man – buy the book, read it and then render an opinion ,otherwise go sit down
If you were not a dunce idiot, you would try to be academically educated like this old man who is both college and university educated; who knows better, and that is why I can state it as I was taught in Kindergarten (stage one as it was called when I attended kindergarten).
Look I do not have to be jealous of anyone especially when they are involve in garbage!
If you had any upper level study in the English language you might have learn the same thing that I was taught out of kindergarten; put that in your pipe and smoke it!
What is your name?
You have none so shut up!
In other words, a medical doctor cannot write fiction? This was not supposed to be a medical book.
Zandoli; I always read your submissions; you seem to know what I said is true.
If it is fiction, disclose that, but when you publish a book titled ” Once Upon A Time” and advertise it on DNO; how many people knows it is fiction?
I cross path with people everyday; as soon as they open their mouth to reminisce on the past they say ‘ones upon a time.” As soon as they say that I know they are perhaps not scholastically educated.
The GRINCH F e DUD T strikes again nonstop, even on the lighter side of life. What a miserable old man. When you figure by his admission that he retired 20 years ago from, of all things, the army, after 35 years, if he joined at 18 that means he is now about 73 years old. To be that miserable at this ripe age after so many years in “the army” isn’t surprising, just ask the VA mental health dept.
My brother, in my opinion, “once upon a time” means a particular moment or time-frame in someone’s life. Fiction or no fiction, the book is about the things that occurred in one’s life, growing up on an island. We should take the words for what they are worth and support the work of Dr. Dangleben and Zenita. They have written the book with our children in mind so let’s encourage each other in what we do rather than trying to dispute the Title of the book. There is great intelligence in our midst but we are the ones to cause that to come to fruition. We need to stop comparing our talents and gifts but rather accept them for what they are and how others can benefit from them. You may be versed in an area that someone else isn’t. We are all different and have our gifts in different ways. Let’s accept each other for who we are as individuals instead of trying to suppress each other’s talents.
HOTEP (PEACE)
Good going!!!! Walk down memory lane. My daughter took the book to school to share with her class the American kids were so fascinated with the island culture. The illustrations capture! Making Dca proud.
Congratulations! I will definitely support!