Read Across Jamaica

Book display at St. James Parish Library

Read Across Jamaica Day is celebrated in May during Education Week. I thought it was simply a day when schools invited people to come and read to students, to highlight the importance of literacy. Now I know it is much more than that. Read Across Jamaica Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to introduce creative methods of teaching reading to children, and encourage them to enjoy literature as an aid to changing future disparaging lifestyles affected by illiteracy. It places special emphasis on ensuring access to much needed resources in disadvantaged communities and stands firmly behind its motto:

“Share a book with a child and you have given illiteracy a dose of cure.”

Ms. Ja'nice Wisdom

Ms. Ja’nice Wisdom, its founder, first introduced the literacy initiative concept to the Jamaica Teachers Association in 2003 as a research paper while studying at the University of Maryland University College. Ms. Wisdom, who now lives in California, is a second generation Jamaican with strong ties to family in Siloah, St. Elizabeth. She is passionate on issues related to children and literacy.

Initially, she modelled the Read Across Jamaica concept after the NEA’s Read Across America Day initiative, otherwise known for celebrating the March 2 birthday of children's book author Dr. Seuss (Ted Gieselle) with a strong emphasis on the universal appeal of “Cat in the Hat.” However, this year she focused on Jamaican authors. Working in collaboration with the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ) 10 copies of each of 50 titles of books by Jamaican authors were purchased and distributed to 10 schools and/or libraries. A big 'thank you' to Kellie Magnus for emailing authors, compiling the list, liaising with Ja'nice, and coordinating the collection and handing over of the books. Authors of these books were on hand to read from them at selected locations, during Education Week.

Following a church service in Trelawny on Sunday, May 3, Ms. Wisdom presented the Minister of Education, The Honourable Ronald Thwaites with a copy of  “Oh, The Places You'll Go!” by Dr. Seuss, to kick-off their Island Wide Bus Tour which began on Monday, May 4 and ended on Saturday May 9.

The schools visited were: Portsmouth Primary, St. Catherine; Mustard Seed Community–Little Angel’s Learning Center, Kingston; Hope Valley Experimental, Papine, St. Andrew; St. Benedicts Primary, Kingston; Port Royal Primary, Kingston; Harbour View Primary, Kingston; Sankofa Primary, St. Thomas; McIntosh Memorial Primary in Manchester; Siloah Primary and Appleton Basic Schools in St. Elizabeth; and finally St. James Parish Library, where I was privileged to be invited to take part in the activities. 

Ms. Wisdom, with the help of library staff, had set up display tables with books and activities for children to take part in.
 She started the program by playing the song ‘Education is the Key’ by TashaT. 

“Education is the key to success, Education is the way of survival,

  Without education you will be declined in this modern time.

“Education is the key to success, Education is the way of survival, 

  Education is the means of sharpening the mind, in this modern time.” 

 Children then sang along, moved to the beat, played tambourines and hit an exercise ball with drum sticks. After this ice-breaker, Ms. Wisdom talked about juggling different aspects of your life – self, family and friends. She illustrated this by juggling balls. As in life, if you drop them, someone will help you retrieve them.

She then read from “Oh, The Places You'll Go!” by Dr. Seuss, picking up two main themes. One tied in with juggling aspects of your life with its ups and downs. The other illustrated the way in which books can allow you to travel the world without leaving your home.

In keeping with this year’s decision to highlight Jamaican children’s authors, I was then given the opportunity to read from “Delroy in the Marog Kingdom”.  Starting with two boys acting the parts of Delroy and Mario putting the frog in a pot, and involving all the children in aspects of the story, I hope I have encouraged them to read the book, copies of which are available in the library. 

With Ja'nice and staff from the library

After my reading there were more activities for the children. Ms. Wisdom and the library staff assisted them in making wordless book bracelets. Then Ms. Wisdom displayed her artistic talents in painting the faces of the participants, one child at a time, meanwhile the others were supplied with paper and crayons for their own art work.

I applaud Ms. Wisdom for her vision, her generosity, her leadership skills and her energizing of the week’s activities for over 12 years in Jamaica. Read Across Jamaica Foundation Inc. is certainly an organization well-worth supporting.
CONTRIBUTE: Donate@ReadAcrossJamaica.com; 
BOOK DRIVE:  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/read-across-jamaica-2015

Books by Jamaican Authors distributed by Read Across Jamaica Foundation

Little Lion Goes to School by Kellie Magnus
Little Lion at Bat by Kellie Magnus
Little Lion Goes for Gold by Kellie Magnus
Nancy and Grandy Nanny by Rebecca Tortello
Gammon and the Woman's Tongue Trees by Diane Browne
Every Little Thing Will be All Right by Diane Browne
Island Princess in Brooklyn by Diane Browne
Ash the Flash by Hazel Campbell
Miss Bettina's House by Hazel Campbell
Bernie and the Captain's Ghost by Hazel Campbell
Freedom Come by Jean Goulbourne
Jo-Jo's Treasure Hunt by Cherrell Shelly-Robinson
Jenny and the General by Jean D'Costa
Little Island, Big Adventure by Maria Roberts Squires
Forest Fever by Sharon James
Bolo the Monkey by Jonathan Burke
Irie Morning by Alison Moss-Solomon
All Over Again by A-Dziko Simba Gegele
Ptolemy Turtle by Melisande Potter Hall
Soon Come by Melisande Potter Hall
Lucille Travels at Christmas by Jasmine N'Toume
Kito in the Kitchen by Radha Poorhan
When the Sun and the Moon Ran Away by Maizle Goulbourne
Dale's Mango Tree by Kim Robinson
Beautiful Blue Shirt on Barry Street by Isabel Marvin
Saving Joe Louis by Isabel Marvin
Naughty Eddie Larue by Julia Wohlt
Suck Finger Pickney by Tracey McNair
The Adventures of Lumi & Twizzy by Gina Harvey Lewis
Fly Away Home by Andy Mead
Project Climate Save by Petre Williams-Raynor
Tilly Bummie by Hazel Campbell
Anancy's African Adventures by Beulah Richmond
Anancy & Friends by Beulah Richmond
Children's Basic Sight Words by Donna Reid
Drog: A Dreggen Story by Hazel Campbell
Juicebox & Scandal Bag by Hazel Campbell
Lally Mae's Farm Suss by Melanie Schwapp
A Boy Named Neville by Linda Gambrill
Miss Tiny by Linda Gambrill
Croaking Johnny and Dizzy Lizzy by Linda Gambrill
Marcus Garvey by Suzanne Francis Brown
Searching for Pirates: A Port Royal Adventure by Suzanne Francis Brown
Young Heroes of the Caribbean by Gwyneth Harold
The Turtle Tale by Latoya Newman
Children of Hopeful Village by Latoya Newman
Aiden and the Apple Tree by Johnathon Kelly
Prayers for School Days by Carolien Aikman
Delroy in the Marog Kingdom by Billy Elm
Errol’s Taxi by Helen Williams
Little Meeta by Jean Goulbourne
Mystery of the Golden Table by Suzanne Francis Brown
Blue Mountain Trouble by Martin Mordecai