BookStart campaign closes with celebration at Emilio Wilson Park
Soualiga Newsday reported that about 100 people joined the Sint Maarten Library’s BookStart campaign closing on 19 September.
About 100 children, parents, caregivers and community members attended the Sint Maarten Library’s Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 closing event at Emilio Wilson Park on 19 September, according to Soualiga Newsday. The Grand Celebration included stories, music and activities for young readers and their families.
Soualiga Newsday reported that the Generation New Status Drumband led a parade before Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs read Two Squabbling Squirrels. American Medical University of the Caribbean presented a puppet show, while poet Sabie, Audrey Claxton, shared a poem with parents about reading with young children.
The newspaper reported that author Ingrid T. Fyffe led a story time session and donated books, while author Amy Arrindell held her “Restore in Color” workshop for parents and caregivers. Collective Prevention Services collaborated on the campaign.
A panel on early childhood development, literacy and support for young learners featured Chevon James of P2C, D’Antoinette Roger-Sorton of Enable Holistic OT, Lorraine Leacock Educator and Ivanca Sterling of Collective Prevention Services. Ingeborg de Weever moderated the discussion, which is due to be available online by the end of September. The library invited families to take part in the campaign again in 2027.
File photo: alljengi / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped, SXM Today mark added
