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<p>Calling all book lovers to go on the adventure of a lifetime for this year's International Literacy Day.</p>
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<p>Recognised by the UN tomorrow (Sept. 8), this year's Literacy Day under the theme: <strong><em>Literacy and Multilingualism</em></strong>, calls on countries to embrace "linguistic diversity in education and literacy development".&nbsp; </p>
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<p><strong>BUZZ </strong>partnered with Tanya Batson-Savage, publisher/editor-in-chief of Caribbean publishing house, <strong>Blue Banyan Books</strong>, to compile a list of delightful children's books authored by Caribbean writers.</p>
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<p>Happy weekend reading!</p>
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<p><strong>Pumpkin Belly &amp; Other Stories </strong><em>by Tanya Batson-Savage and Staysean Daley </em></p>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Pumpkin-Belly-Other-Stories-Coverlr.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7727" /><figcaption>Pumpkin Belly and Other Stories appropriate for children ages 7 - 12 years</figcaption></figure></div>
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<p><strong>Pumpkin Belly and Other Stories</strong> <em>is a bellyful of adventure! This collection of five tales written in the rich Jamaican folklore tradition and inspired by proverbs and mythical creatures presents wily, admirable heroes to boys and girls today. The young heroes journey to the bottom of a river and into the lair of the mythical River Mumma, encounter a magical guava tree, and of course discovers how water gets into the belly of the pumpkin aka ‘how water walk go a pumpkin belly’. Deft, often whimsical hand-drawn illustrations help to bring these fresh, entertaining stories to life.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Pumpkin Belly and Other Stories</strong> <em>explores determination, greed, and the wonder of a great imagination.</em></p>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/All-Over-Again.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7729" /><figcaption>All Over Again appropriate for children ages 10-14 years.</figcaption></figure></div>
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<p><strong>All Over Again</strong> <em>is the winner of the inaugural Burt Award for Caribbean Literature (2014) and was longlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Award 2015. It is an enchanting slice of boyhood captured with a bold narrative style that pulls you in. This episodic novel, set in a fictional rural village in Jamaica, masterfully creates the wonderfully turbulent world of a young boy as he moves from childhood to puberty and battles the incessant needs of his shrimp of a little sister, the demands of his father, the high school bully and the local know-it-all Kenny. </em><strong>All Over Again</strong><em> is a story of growth, loss, love and triumph. Rooted in over 30 years of theatre, prose and poetry performance writing, </em><strong>All Over Again </strong>is A-dZiko Simba Gegele’s exuberantly humorous<em> debut novel. This coming of age tale has received rave reviews and is as suitable for the young, as well as the young at heart.</em></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Dancing-In-The-Rain.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7731" /><figcaption>Dancing In The Rain By Lynn Joseph appropriate for children ages 10 - 14 years.</figcaption></figure>
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<p><em>Twelve year-old Elizabeth is no normal girl. With an imagination that makes room for mermaids and magic in everyday life, she lives every moment to the fullest. Yet her joyful world crumbles around her when two planes bring down the Twin Towers and tear her family apart. Thousands of miles away, yet still touched by this tragedy, Elizabeth is swimming in a sea of loss. She finally finds hope when she meets her kindred spirit in 8 year-old Brandt and his 13 year-old brother, Jared. Brandt and Jared, as different as Oreo and milk and just as inseparable, arrive on the island to escape the mushroom of sorrow that bloomed above their lives in the wake of the tragedy. Elizabeth shows them a new way to look at the world and they help her to laugh again. </em><strong>Dancing in the Rain</strong><em> explores the impact of the tragic fall of the Twin Towers on two Caribbean families. It is a lyrical, well-crafted tale about finding joy in the face of loss. </em><strong>Dancing in the Rain </strong><em>won a Burt Award for Caribbean Literature (2015) prize and was longlisted for the 2017 Dublin International Literary Prize. It was named one of the best books for young readers (2016) by Kirkus Reviews.</em></p>
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