A popular children’s reading festival returns to Victoria Park in Hamilton on Saturday.

Since 1999, the reading festival has been held with the objective of helping to improve literacy in Bermuda. It is a free event, which celebrates books as a valuable source of learning, information and entertainment.

The event runs from 11am until 4pm and is organised by the Bermuda Alumnae Chapter (BAC) of the United States-based Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Nina Jacobs, of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, told us “One of the key components of a comprehensive education is sound literacy skills.

“Studies show young people with low literacy skills tend to perform poorly in school and develop inadequate problem-solving skills. They tend to avoid situations that may highlight their weakness, which often means they avoid positive activities like joining sports teams and participating in school events.

“BAC uses this event as a vehicle to remind parents to encourage literacy in their young people by fostering a love of active reading in their homes.

“The festival is aimed at children from birth through middle school. Each child who attends receives a free book, can take part in storytelling time, which includes live reading by some of Bermuda’s premier children’s authors, and an arts and crafts station, which combines reading and fun. We foster an upbeat, energetic atmosphere by providing fun castles, free drinks, ice cream and popcorn.

“We also distribute literature for parents that emphasises how critically important it is to start reading to their children early. We encourage parents to make reading a priority by developing a family reading time long before children start their formal education.

“The Department of Health are providing support through having their Speech and Language Pathologists from both the Child & Development Centre as well as the school based therapists available in a resource tent to parents who may have questions or concerns about their children’s development.

“We are also working to have Bermuda Youth Library on hand to provide information on joining and being active with the library.

“This year with the partnership of The Ministry of Education the target audience has been extended to include middle school students. They will have a booth in the park promoting the new middle school initiative, giving away books and offering some really cool prizes throughout the day.”