Papa Mpho, Kiara storytelling in the Children’s Room

Papa Mpho, Kiara storytelling in the Children’s Room; workshop on bullying, over 20 free activities for St. Martin Book Fair 2012

GREAT BAY/MARIGOT, St. Martin (May 21, 2012)—The plans and preparations for the 10th annual St Martin Book Fair, May 31 to June 2, is moving “Forward,” said Shujah Reiph, book fair coordinator.

In fact, “Forward” is the 2012 theme and both St. Martin’s people and tourists can expect a bold and beautiful international blend of novelists, poets, scholars, and artists from the USA, Italy, Singapore, the Caribbean and more.

Throughout the three book fair days, attendees can expect to have available to them a wider than usual range of books for purchase, they would have an opportunity to meet famous authors and participate in workshops that range from how to write your life’s story, making guavaberry, and the e-Book workshop, “literature + technology = future.”

Certified instructor of the International Non Violent Crisis Intervention (USA) Eric Fenwick will be facilitating the workshop entitled “How to Stop Bullying.”

This workshop can benefit children and parents as Fenwick will discuss useful and modern tools to reduce bullying and violence in the island’s schools.

Children can also learn ways how to deal with bullies in a non-violent manner, said Ari Sutton, member of the Book Fair Committee (BFC), which is also coordinating this workshop with various schools during the book fair. The anti-bullying workshop is at USM on Saturday, June 2, and it runs from 9 am to 10:30 am.

On the happier side of childhood, parents can peruse their favorite books, talk with authors, or attend a workshop while leaving their children in the Children’s Room, in the care of coordinator Bernadette Hasell.

The annual child-centered “space” is open to children from 4 to 12 years old,  at USM, Room 102. Children can expect to participate in games, songs, listen to stories and folklore, some possibly in more than one language.

Special guest appearances would be made by storyteller Papa Mpho and Kiara Meyers, Little Miss St. Martin 2012. Kiara will read folktales from selected books to her fellow youngsters. The Children’s Room is open from 9 am to 1 pm.

The Book Fair Committee (BFC) will be coordinating over 20 free pre-book fair and book fair activities for the literary festival, said Reiph.

The St. Martin Book Fair is organized by Conscious Lyrics Foundation and House of Nehesi Publishers in collaboration with St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, the Ministry of Education & Culture (MECSY), the Collectivity of St. Martin, and the  University of St. Martin (USM).