The fifth annual Children's Reading Festival being held at a Hamilton park tomorrow will be opened by Home Affairs Minister, Randy Horton.

The Children's Reading Festival is being hosted by the Bermuda Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Every child who goes to Victoria Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will get a free book. Stories will be read throughout the day.

The aim of the festival has been to encourage parents to read to their children but also for children themselves to pick up a book and read.

Sorority spokesperson Lisa Currin said: "The Children's Reading Festival celebrates books as a valuable source of learning, information and entertainment (and is a) popular literary event".

Ms Currin said other festival activities included: "an art station for creative expression through drawing, colouring and creative writing; face painting; fun castle; and a Junior Scrabble Tournament".

The event is open to the public and free beverages and popcorn will be available she said.

Sorority Education Chairperson and St. George's Prep teacher Jana Pitcher said, "We want to be able to share with the children who attend the reading festival the joys, excitement and adventure they can get from reading.

"Sadly, many children's homes do not have children's books, and so, in many cases books are not a part of a child's home life. By giving a complimentary book to each child we hope to help start a collection, or add to an existing library," Ms Lambert said.

Bermuda Alumnae Chapter president, Bridget Rabain said, "we will provide an atmosphere at the Children's Reading Festival where parents can see their children engaged in the reading process.

"We wish to demonstrate to parents that by reading books, which are above the child's reading level, has far-reaching benefits. Children can comprehend at a level higher than their reading ability.

"Parents reading to their children will introduce new words to their child's vocabulary, while stimulating and enhancing fluency in reading and literacy," Ms Rabain said.

This year's festival sponsors are: XL Foundation, the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, the Bank of Butterfield, Belco, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Capital G, Evoke International Ltd., Paradiso Caf?, and the MarketPlace.