Dec. 20, 2008 – The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) will donate a collection of Caribbean children's books to the bookmobiles on both St. Croix and St. Thomas on Monday, Dec. 22. The books were carefully selected to provide the best in early childhood literature, and include books written by local authors that reflect the cultural diversity of our region. More than 125 books were purchased at a cost in excess of $2,000.
Some of the popular titles purchased for the bookmobiles include: "Keisha Ann Can!" "Yesterday We Had a Hurricane," "My Great Grandmother's Gourd," "Stellaluna," "I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean," "Caribbean Carnival: Songs of the West Indies," "Angelina's Island" and "Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef." Parents are encouraged to visit the bookmobile and borrow these wonderful books to read with their children.
Presentation of the books will take place at the bookmobiles at 11 a.m., on Monday, Dec. 22, in the area of Lionel Roberts Stadium, in the Human Services parking lot (adjacent to the Parks and Recreation basketball court) on St. Thomas. Dee Baecher-Brown, CFVI president, will make the presentation.
This donation to the bookmobiles supports the work of The Family Connection Center, which is CFVI's initiative to raise the quality of early childcare and education in the territory. The promotion of literacy and the love of learning, both for young children and their parents, is an important element of this effort.
TFC Center, located in Vitraco Mall, has a free early childhood lending library with more than 1,000 developmentally appropriate toys and children's books as well as over 250 professional titles on early literacy, curriculum, child psychology and the business management of childcare centers. Parents and early childcare professionals are invited to visit and borrow from their collection.
The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, and by appointment Tuesday through Friday. For information, call 777-0990.
For additional information about CFVI phone 774-6031, write P.O. Box 11790, St. Thomas, USVI, 00801, or visit the Web site at www.cfvi.net