Boys break their piggy bank for St. Martin Book Fair 2018

MARIGOT/GREAT BAY (April 8, 2018) -- What better way to announce the date of St. Martin Book Fair 2018? Out of the mouths and actions of babes! First grader Timothy (in photo) and his baby brother Joshua heard on SOS radio 95.9 FM, “about the financial difficulty that the Book Fair Committee, BFC, is facing at this recovery period in St. Martin,” said Shujah Reiph, the literary festival coordinator.

The boys “asked their mother to break their piggy bank and give their savings toward the organizing of the 16th annual St. Martin Book Fair,” said Shujah (in photo). About three years before this March goodwill contribution, Shujah had spoken to an early stimulation class on the importance of reading. Unbeknown to Shujah, Timothy was a pupil in the class and went on to develop a love for reading.

When Timothy and his brother were brought by their mom to meet Shujah last March, Timothy told the book fair coordinator: “You motivated me to read and I don’t want the book fair to stop.” “The BFC is thankful to Timothy and Joshua for their heart-warming gesture,” said Shujah. In photo: Shujah and Timothy met again at SOS radio’s Lazy Bay fair of “Made in St. Martin/St. Maarten” foods, books, and arts and crafts (3.31.18). As a thank you gift to Timothy and Joshua, Shujah presented Timothy with the newest published-in-St. Martin storybook, Ti Koko and Kush Kush by Virgin Islands author Dr. Patricia G. Turnbull. And the date of this year’s St. Martin Book Fair? The island-wide “book fair for the entire family” will take place on June 1 – 2, 2018. (CLF photo.)