(The Valley, Anguilla. March 9, 2020). It was an exciting night for approximately 50 third-grade students from primary schools around the island, on Wednesday March 4th, when the Anguilla Literary Foundation hosted a Pajama Party in honour of World Book Day 2020. During the evening, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, members of ALF and other volunteers engaged the students in games, storytelling and movie-watching. “This event is the first of a series of events we are seeking to stage to generate interest in reading” commented ALF President, Sherille Hughes. “We hope that as we bring literature to life through story-telling and movies, that we will ignite a spark of interest in the contents of books that will burst into the flames of a fully developed imagination – that will in turn trigger a love for books, and the desire to give life to their own creative ideas through poetry, story writing and illustrating”.
The evening was made possible through the support, assistance and sponsorship of a number of companies locally and overseas. Deep appreciation is extended to Scholastic Books in New York and the author of the Captain Underpants series, Mr. Dav Pilkey, who provided complimentary copies of his book, Captain Underpants – “For Whom The Ball Rolls” for presentation to the children. Mr Pilkey and Scholastic Books arranged for the books’ transportation from New York to Miami free of cost. Thanks are also extended to Tropical Shipping (Anguilla) Ltd/Haskins Ltd. for shipping the books onwards to Anguilla. Further thanks are extended to Sandy Island Enterprises for their generosity in sponsoring the cost of snacks provided for the evening’s event. The Anguilla Literary Foundation also acknowledges the input of the staff at Paradise Cove for their assistance with the preparation of the snacks.
Mrs.Hyacinth Hughes and Mrs. Cassilda Thomas-Brooks, who led the games and story time, the management of the Teachers’ Resource Centre, The Education Dept. and all the parents involved, also contributed to the success of the event.
The Anguilla Literary Foundation is committed to the pursuit of the preservation and conservation of our heritage and traditions through the literary and lyrical arts – as it continues to provide a platform for our local people to further develop and showcase their literary, lyrical and musical skills as they share with award-winning authors, poets, lyricists, Spoken Word performers and Calypsonians from the region, the United States and Canada. This is made possible through the Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification, an annual celebration of Books and Beaches, which takes place this year from May 14-17, 2020 on the grounds of the Paradise Cove Resort, Anguilla.
For more information on the Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification or to register for this year’s event, contact us on email: info@anguillalitfest.com or visit our website www.anguillalitfest.com.
- Press Release