There's nothing quite as magical for a child to read a book that contains stories and images of life that mirror their own. That's what primary school students in Bermuda will be treated to again this year thanks to three social studies books written by local teachers.

The Ministry of Education commissioned the books last year to bolster the social studies curriculum for primary one, primary two and primary three schools.

Social studies aims to develop effective citizens, to enable students to understand their world, both local and global, to participate effectively in their world, and to explain their relationship to other people and institutions such as school, government, business and the environment.

The three books will begin to develop these skills within the young learner and it is hoped will also build pride in being Bermudian and a better appreciation for Bermuda by anyone not from the Island.

However the books will not be restricted to the teaching of social studies, but can be used for reading, writing and speaking in the teaching of English language, arts as well as health, science, character education and information technology.

The three books incorporate primary social studies curriculum topics. These are expressed through a fictional narrative based on Bermuda characters, places, customs, traditions, and the symbols and images of Bermuda that students can immediately recognise and connect with.

This familiarity reinforces the students' ability, desire and potential to learn and also guide students towards an awareness and understanding of the values that shape their own identity and by which they shape the identity of the community around them.

The six teachers are:

Karen Trott, who received an AS degree in Early Childhood Education from Hesser College in New Hampshire, a BS in Primary Education from Wheelock College in Boston, and an M. Ed in Administration, Supervision and Curriculum from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has been teaching at Purvis Primary School in Warwick since 1990 and is currently Head of Infants and Wonderland Coordinator. Karen is married, with two children, and has a passion for teaching children to learn new skills.

Joann Dill was born and raised in Bermuda. Early in her teaching career she worked as a preschool teacher and para-educator and has been working as Primary two classroom teacher at St. George's Preparatory School since 2002. She is aiming to complete her Master's Degree in Literacy Education in 2007. Ms Dill is an avid reader, loves cooking and travelling and is the mother of two adult children.

Tricia Foggo, originally from Massachusetts, earned a BA in Political Science from Northeastern University in Boston and an MS Degree in Early Childhood Education at Wheelock College. She says she believes that children should learn as much as possible about the place they are from and where they live. In her free time she enjoys reading, playing tennis and exploring Bermuda.

Cecily Richardson earned a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. She completed her Master's Degree in Human Resources and Management at Webster University and is currently a Reading Recovery/ Reading Resource Teacher at Northlands Primary School, Pembroke.

Da'Shawn Doars has a BA in Social Work and an MS in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching in the Bermuda school system since 2001. She enjoys reading and travelling and says her wish is for every child to have an enriching and stimulating educational experience.

Tamisheka Swan, who graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in August 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She has been a teacher at Francis Patton Primary School for nine years and is the Language Arts Coordinator. She enjoys spending her time with loved ones and friends, reading and travelling and is the proud mother of two.