President Christine Kangaloo continued the series Children’s Storytime at President’s House with another event on October 4, hosted by the Office of the President in collaboration with the NGC Bocas Lit Fest.

In July, Kangaloo hosted the inaugural Children’s Storytime event at President’s House. As part of this initiative, it is her intention to extend invitations to primary schools across the country. The storytime sessions have thus far featured local writers and professional storytellers and musicians.

[caption id="attachment_1040073" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Alake Pilgrim reads from Zo and the Forest of Secrets. -[/caption]

The second instalment included students from Maraval RC Primary School, Marabella Boys’ AC Primary School and Seereeram Memorial Vedic School.

Kangaloo opened the programme by reminding the children of the importance of reading. She reminisced about her own childhood and the joy she got from reading, a pleasant experience that she continues to this day.

[caption id="attachment_1040072" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Alana Jada Marie Ambris of Seereeram Memorial Vedic Primary School reads from The Whisperer’s Warning by Danielle YC McClean – 2022 Bocas Children’s Book Prize winner. -[/caption]

She reminded the young audience that reading not only offers information but also stimulates the imagination and paves the way for greater knowledge.

Children’s author Alake Pilgrim provided an entertaining and educational session, reading from her book Zo and The Forest of Secrets, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Bocas Lit Fest Children’s Book Prize. She ensured the children were engaged with exciting stories about Papa Bois and the forest animals, and followed her readings with short quizzes.

[caption id="attachment_1040071" align="alignnone" width="963"] .President Christine Kangaloo looks on as Aiden Jones of Marabella Boys’ AC School reads from The Legend of the Lover’s Leap (Jamaica). -[/caption]

The students responded excitedly to the quizzes and received tokens from the President and the National Gas Company (NGC), title sponsor of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest.

Aiden Jones, Alana Jada Maria Ambris, and Denzille Lamy represented their schools and read excerpts from three books –The Legend of the Lover’s Leap, The Whisperer’s Warning and In the Backyard respectively. They each received a copy of My Covid Stories, an illustrated book published by the NGC Bocas Lit Fest – a collection of stories by children aged five-12.

[caption id="attachment_1040070" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Denzille Lamy of Maraval RC Primary School reads an excerpt from In the Backyard. -[/caption]

At the conclusion of the event, Melvina Hazard, children’s programme manager, Bocas Lit Fest, said the second successful Children’s Storytime at President’s House was another indication that honing reading skills in young children is imperative to improving literacy levels in TT.

She added, “The efforts of NGOs such as NGC Bocas Lit Fest through initiatives such as the Children’s Storytelling C