Book launch for Down the Mississippi (Mark Twain Museum Press)

HANNIBAL, Mo. – In “Down the Mississippi: A Modern-day Huck on America’s River Road,” CNN iReporter Neal Moore traveled the Mississippi River by canoe and collected positive stories along the way.

Moore highlights stories originally featured as CNN iReports, including:

Passing on the Dance of the Ojibwe -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-300489

Mississippi River Town Rallies Against Cancer -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-306214

The Somali-American Journey -
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-314362

A Field Day with the Practical Farmers of Iowa -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-323651

The Renaissance of America's Hometown -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-331584

Moving Positive with Habitat St. Louis -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-335209

The Great Migration of Cairo, Illinois -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-340344

A Safe Place in the City of Good Abode -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-343472

Embracing the Economic Blues -
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-346909

Illiteracy to Literature in the Enlightened South -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-351047

Life Lessons of the Dugout Canoe -
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-356863

A Prison Without Walls -
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-362186

Brad Pitt's Green Building Boom -
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-368806

After meeting Mark Twain Museum executive director Cindy Lovell, the two partnered on the book, Lovell focusing on integrating Twain’s voice throughout the narrative and Moore sharing the experiences of his journey.

"When Neal arrived in Hannibal by canoe we were immediately taken with his story,” Lovell said. “The idea of traveling the river in search of positive stories resonated with us, and he instantly became an honorary Hannibalian."

Moore and Lovell launched the book on July 28th at the Mark Twain Museum Gallery. Moore shared some of the river stories he gathered, and the two discussed their collaboration on the project.

Moore, a self-described citizen journalist and creative activist, was inspired to make the journey in the spirit of the late Dan Eldon, a photojournalist killed in Mogadishu, Somalia. Kathy Eldon, Dan’s mother, wrote the preface for the book. James Peipert, a retired journalist, editor, and foreign correspondent for The Associated Press, wrote the introduction.

"It feels just great to step back into Hannibal and for the chance of a lifetime to present Down the Mississippi at the Mark Twain Museum," Moore said.

Down the Mississippi: A Modern-day Huck on America's River Road is the first book to be published by the Mark Twain Museum Press in the Museum's 100 year history.

To view additional photos, video, and to purchase the book, please visit moderndayhuck.com.