Hosted on October 18 and 19, 2024, the first successful edition, by the Sint Maarten Library, in collaboration with Stichting Biblionef Netherlands, the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Youth and Sport, the University of St. Martin, and Help Our Children Foundation, this year’s reading festival themed “Discover the Joy of Reading” welcomed over 1000 young participants and their families.
The festival kicked off with a ceremonial opening on Friday, October 18, gathering children from 22 primary Cycle 1 Group 3 schools, including both subsidized and non-subsidized institutions. The event’s second day, Saturday, October 19, transformed into a vibrant family day, offering interactive reading, educational, cultural, and recreational activities designed to ignite a lifelong love of reading for all ages.
The festival spotlighted an inspiring lineup of local authors, including Ruby Bute, Ralph Cantave, Jacky Rom, Collin Bootman, Roy Marlin, and Mark Yokoyama, who shared their passion for storytelling with attendees.
Oral storytelling sessions featured engaging tales from storytellers Dorita Ward, Linda Moise, Jamie Nyenhuis-Morillion, and Sherriliza Peterson. An exceptional group of community readers—spanning educators, firefighters, social workers, authors, youth advocates, and entrepreneurs—also read aloud to children. This group included Glenderlin Holiday, Monika Kluis, Sherritza Peterson, Peggy Coasaque, Marvio Cooks, Nelly Blaise, Tamara Groeneveldt, Francine de Polo, Shanell James, and Michel Peterson, creating an unforgettable experience for all present.
Highlights included a puppet show by Patricia Maier-Illidge, a parental reading workshop led by Claudia Conner, and a lively drama performance by student teachers from the University of St. Martin.
The Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation, the National Institute of the Arts (NIA), and Amuseum Naturalis further enriched the festival with cultural activities, interactive games, and special book presentations.
Fun and engaging reading activities, such as the Book Dance and Book Tasting, encouraged young participants to sign up for library memberships. As a result, 64 new members joined on the spot, each receiving a free membership and a personal book from Biblionef Netherlands to continue their reading journey.
To complete their registration, new members are reminded to bring a recent passport-sized photo to the Philipsburg Library from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to receive their library cards.
The festival will conclude with a Facebook raffle in November 2024, where prizes will be awarded to participants. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for raffle updates and winner announcements!
The Sint Maarten Reading Festival was met with enthusiasm from children, families, volunteers, and sponsors alike. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the face painters from Funtopia and La Belle Arts, the beloved mascots Elmo, Hello Kitty, Dora, Diego, Minnie, and Mickey Mouse, as well as our various, volunteers, vendors, and sponsors whose support made this festival possible.
We look forward to future celebrations that continue to foster a love for books and reading within our community. Check out highlights from the festival on our social media pages, and do not miss our raffle! Winners can claim their prizes at the Sint Maarten Library following the Facebook Live raffle announcement.
For more information, contact the Sint Maarten Library at +1 721-542-2970, visit our website at [www.library.sx](http://www.library.sx), or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
