Children flocked to a pile of books and an assortment of tables with wide eyes and hushed tones Saturday at Tutu Park Mall.
They said their names, their schools and their ages while requesting an autograph from author Ashley-Ruth Moolenaar Bernier. She was more than willing to oblige.
“This is so exciting,” said Bernier, who is also a second-grade teacher at Gladys Abraham Elementary School. “I’m so glad it turned out like this.”
Bernier is a first-time author whose poetry book, “Sand, Sea and Poetry,” is one of six featured books in the fifth Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge Program. The initiative promotes literacy by encouraging children to read and collect books during their summer vacation, challenging them to keep track of their summer reading lists while exposing them to Caribbean authors with St. Thomas ties.
More than 150 people showed up to receive free books and gifts while taking pictures with chosen children’s authors. Families stood in long lines to speak with local authors Bernier, Mario Picayo and David and Phillis Gershator. The authors entertained the adoring crowd with tall tales from their various books. Picayo said the community response Saturday was overwhelming.
“This is excellent. They’re finally doing something for the kids,” said Marisa Rogers, a mother of two. “It encourages kids and teaches them they can do anything. Reading is fundamental.”
This year’s program is open to all of the territory’s public, private, and parochial students between kindergarten and eighth grade, according to the Governor’s Office. Participants in the reading challenge who read five books or more will be invited to a “Fun Day” with the governor at the end of the summer to recognize their achievements.
Alscess Lewis-Brown and Lisette Lima-Hermon are featured authors in the program along with Bernier, Picayo and the Gershators. The books are illustrated by well-known visual artists including Yolanda Fundora, Diane Greenseid and Cherise Ward. Books were separated in piles for children aged 6 and 7, 8 through 11 and 12 through 14. The St. Thomas Bookmobile was also available to the public in the mall’s parking lot.
Organizers distributed free books Saturday throughout the territory to kick off the program. Program officials gave away featured books, bags, candy, cups and other treats. Children were also offered free face paint. A similar event took place in the Amphitheater at Sunny Isle Shopping Center on St. Croix. Another free book giveaway is scheduled between 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday at the St. John Festival Food Fair. The program will continue until September 13.
Bernier began writing her book last year at night while preparing lesson plans by day. Bernier was inspired by the reading program and her daughter’s involvement in it. She had always written poetry in her spare time, so she decided to put pen to pad and create a book that spoke exclusively to the Caribbean experience. Bernier, who comes from a long lineage of St. Thomas natives, finished the book in two months.
“It was hard work. I ran everything past my daughter to see what she did and didn’t like,” Bernier said.
Rogers and her 10-year-old daughter Kiyani were one of the first in line to get Bernier’s autograph. Rogers said Kiyani is a voracious reader and burgeoning entrepreneur who creates comic books and sells them for 25 cents. She heard about Bernier from her niece, who was in Bernier’s class. She brought Kiyani to the event Saturday because she heard Bernier was relocating after the school year ends.
“We’re going to miss her,” Rogers said. “So we decided to get some memorabilia.”
Each featured author has his or her own story.
Picayo is an activist and photographer who was born in Cuba, spent his formative years in St. Thomas and currently lives in New York City. Picayo is editor-in-chief of Editorial Campana, an independent publishing company in New York. Campanita Books and Little Bell Caribbean are the children’s books imprints of the company.
The Gershators have published almost 40 books between them. Phillis Gershator was a librarian at Enid Baa public library. She published her first children’s book in 1979. Her husband David taught creative writing at the University of the Virgin Islands in 1972, back when it was still the College of the Virgin Islands. He is a visual artist, songwriter, poet and recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship
Picayo’s book, “Fun, Fun, One Crab on the Run,” features illustrations by Grenadian painter and illustrator Stacey Byer. Animals and plants found in the Caribbean, including mangoes, starfish and conchs inspired her illustrations. Picayo said it’s important to connect children with literature that displays visual stimulators that reference their environment.
“Kids need to see themselves in books or they start to think, ‘Why is what I read in a book more important than what I see around me?’” Picayo said. “They need to see enriched images from their world. It is very, very important.”
Sekoia Rogers, program coordinator of the reading challenge, said Picayo was integral in finding local authors and appropriate works through his publishing company. The program uses a literary group of local librarians, teachers and assistant principles to brainstorm and prepare for the event.
Participating students can learn more about the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge at www.readfive.org and are encouraged to visit the program’s Facebook page. The reading program is a partnership between the Office of the Governor, the V.I. Department of Education, Virgin Islands Public Libraries and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. Channel TV2 is also a key sponsor.
“We want kids to know reading is fun,” Sekoia Rogers said.
