The Bermuda National Gallery waves the flag for literacy in its upcoming exhibition, featuring the artwork of well-known illustrators, particularly of children's books.

It is called 'Once Upon A Time.Every Picture Tells A Story' and is designed to help children appreciate literature and to showcase the eye-catching work of the illustrators.

Gallery director Laura Gorham said: "Studies show that children who have trouble reading at age six will have trouble reading throughout their lives. A challenge teachers and parents face is making reading fun. This exhibit has been designed to make reading a more active pastime; one that inspires imagination and encourages introspection."

The opening events include an afternoon of events for young people this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Children are especially invited to bring their parents on this special family day. There will be many extra activities that will be added, including storytelling, face painting and clowns. This promises to be a fun-filled event and the National Gallery hopes to see you there.

The idea for this exhibition was put forward by former education director Louisa Flannery about two years ago. She was first introduced to a similar concept for an exhibition at an education conference away from the Island, and then at another museum.

She was responsible for forming the organising committee which includes The Bermuda National Library Youth Division, The Bermuda College Library and The Ministry of Education and Development.

There are five local illustrators whose work will be appearing in the show, including Sharon Wilson, whose beautiful pastels illuminated The Day Gogo Went To Vote, Patricia DeCosta's charming characters in Sidney The Sailboat, the whimsical work of Angela Ming Bean in It Takes A Smiling Raindrop, Helen Daniel's vibrant and intricate pictures in The Bermuda Cedar Tree and Catherine Draycott's insightful work for Nothin' But A Pond Dog.

Along with these enchanting works, there will also be art inspired by retold African tales, while another is about the discovery of Bermuda.

Award-winning American artists are also featured, most of whom have received both the Coretta Scott King Award and the Caldecott Award.

If you appreciate a more `hands on' approach to artwork, there will be many related activities that visitors to the exhibition can enjoy. These include creating writing boards, a recording area in order to narrarate a story, an amphitheatre where you can act out stories and a work area to have a go at making your own version of a picture book.

The show opens on September 30, 2002, and closes on January 18th, 2003. The Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.