The BLING book club is encouraging members to turn off the electronics and turn book pages instead this weekend.

The club is holding a 'No No Weekend' starting July 10th to celebrate its newest book choices, 'Diary of Wimpy the Kid' and 'The Lost Island of Tamarind'.

Books Lead Individuals to New Greatness (BLING) was founded by Hott 107.5 FM breakfast radio show presenters Thaao Dill and Glenn Jones.

The two, who have since gone on to become a Senator and the Premier's press secretary respectively, decided to respond to an appeal by then-Education Minister Randy Horton's call for all citizens to be involved in the education of Bermuda's children.

The grassroots club aims to make reading a fundamental building block of a child's development and education.

Its founders believe reading books helps to improve children's chances of a vibrant future. This weekend's plans are their most ambitious to date.

Sen. Dill said: "We're calling it the BLING No-No Weekend because we want our members to turn off the TV and click away from the Internet for one weekend.

"I know in this day and age that it is a lot to expect but there will be plenty of fun, plenty of books and plenty of reading in place of those electronic nuisances."

On Friday there will be a pizza party at the Bermuda College from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

It will be filled with literacy games and prizes and every child that attends will receive the club's latest book choices.

On Saturday, the students will head for a day trip to Dockyard where they will visit Commissioner's House, have lunch, play games and, of course, read in the park. And as is their signature, all the events are free to BLING Book Club members.

Mr. Jones said they hoped that many of their 500 members would attend.

To help keep tabs on the numbers, the organisers are urging parents to go to www.blingbookclub.com and register.

The first book members will be given is Jeff Kinney's 'Diary of Wimpy the Kid' which has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for more than 15 weeks.

The other book, 'The Lost Island of Tamarind', was written by Bermudian Nadia Aguiar.

Mr. Jones thanked all the private individuals who sponsored the club as well as major corporate sponsor, Endurance.