reading skills in the US, will visit the Island next week to present a workshop and an evening lecture.

Jim Trelease, author of the bestseller "The Read Aloud Handbook'', will hold the workshop from 1 to 4 p.m., and the lecture at 7.30 p.m. next Thursday.

Both events have the title of "Reading Aloud: Motivating children to make books into friends, not enemies.'' Mr. Trelease's visit will be sponsored by the Montessori Academy.

A Montessori Academy spokesperson explained that the well-respected author used an "anecdotal style in his lecture presentation that rings with humour and enthusiasm''.

The father of two grown children, Mr. Trelease will also address common parent concerns such as reading in bed, comic books, commercial phonics programmes, sports-obsessed fathers and television viewing.

While the Sonesta programme will be focus on children's reading, the spokesperson said its content was aimed at an adult audience.

During the lecture presentation Mr. Trelease will cite dozens of titles and will demonstrate the simple techniques involved in reading aloud. He will show the importance of reading aloud from the "cradle to adolescence''.

Tickets for both events, which are priced at $20, can be obtained from the Children's Bookstore on Bermudiana Road.