More Than $6,700 Books Donated to Schools Across Eleuthera
Twelve schools across Eleuthera celebrated a major boost to their libraries following a generous donation from Bahamian publisher Teri Bethel and her husband, Commodore (Retired) Tellis Bethel. Partnering with the Charitable Arts Foundation, the Bethels personally distributed over $6,700 worth of culturally rich, educational children's books to primary and high school classrooms.
Empowering Students through Bahamian Stories
The initiative focused on providing "homegrown" literature that resonated with local students. These Ministry of Education-approved titles—including Trapped on Kooky Island and The Case of the Missing Boat Captain—blended island culture, history, and geography with life lessons on character and confidence.
Key Highlights:
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Cultural Connection: Teachers and principals highlighted the importance of students seeing their own world reflected in the pages they read.
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Proven Results: Parents reported significant breakthroughs, with once-struggling readers evolving into fluent, confident students.
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Creative Tools: Beyond fiction, writing guides like Go to the Head of the Class were utilized by educators to sharpen students' storytelling skills.
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Community Impact: This tour followed the Bethels' 2021 initiative, which donated nearly 600 books by over 50 Bahamian authors to public libraries.
"Our desire was to see the children of Eleuthera — the leaders of tomorrow — excel in their reading, writing, speaking, comprehension, and behavior." — Teri Bethel
The Bethels would like to expand this literacy mission to other islands, continuing their work to inspire a national love for reading and strong character in the next generation of Bahamians.
Celebrating our Students
Six months ago, Kenron disliked reading. He knew sight words but struggled with sentences. His dad says our books sparked his new passion for reading. Now, he's not only reading but also shows tremendous improvement in his grades. Well done, Kenron!
Kylee, a 6-year-old girl in Grand Bahama, received Polly's Little Secret from her grandmother, who was excited about how well she read for her age. We love how confident she is. Incidentally, she read the entire book in one sitting. We're celebrating you, Kylie. Well done!
I met Ms. Charity at a local resort. Her daughter had difficulty reading until she purchased one of my picture books. For the first time ever, her daughter was interested in reading and could not get enough of my books.
Sai, a little girl in Eleuthera, had just turned 5 years old when she read "A Goat Called Billy" to her mom. Sheena sent this short video in with a note saying that she loves my book! Keep up the great work, Sai!
School Visits
Visiting students in our schools is always a joy. Teachers value the support, and children are encouraged to know there are people beyond their teachers and parents who are concerned about them. Many people may not realize how much teachers contribute from their own finances for classroom decorations, project materials, and sometimes even lunches and uniforms for their students.
Purchasing reading books is a significant gesture for many. We are grateful to local organizations like the Rotary Club of Eleuthera, which have supported students for many years and have collaborated with us to provide books for several classrooms.
These aren't just any books; they educate, inspire, and entertain children while teaching valuable life lessons to help shape their character. The books are place-based, meaning they celebrate our islands and allow children to engage with their country and history through various characters and stories they can relate to. If you would like to support a class by purchasing one or more of our titles, please feel free to reach out to us.
Schools
Laura Anderson Primary School
I had a lovely time with the students and teachers at Laura Anderson Primary School in North Eleuthera as they celebrated Literacy Week 2024 in GRAND STYLE! Afterward, I spent some time with Grade 5 Imlach and was invited back for a second visit a short time later. It was quite heartening to see how dedicated the principal and teachers were.
Mrs. Imlach later shared that the supplemental book Go To The Head Of The Class had become the student's go-to resource for improving their writing skills.
Trinity Christian Schools
Teri your books have given our students, rich, indigenous material which has certainly whet their appetites for voracious reading and has also inspired them to explore and learn more about their culture. Grade 6 will be visiting the Clifton Heritage site, inspired by their reading of Trapped on Kooky Island.
As an educator, I have confidence in the quality of your literature for our young minds. Not only is the plot/content full of important life lessons, but the vocabulary and imagery widen students' knowledge and thinking skills.
Mrs. Gillian Thompson,
Principal, Trinity Christian Schools, Nassau, Bahamas
Windermere High School
Windermere High School is the nation's only boarding school for High School students and is located in the beautiful, peaceful community of Savannah Sound, Eleuthera. Windermere is serious about the literacy advancement of its students. The school is using two books, Trapped on Kooky Island and The Case of The Missing Boat Captain, to stimulate their students' interest in reading while they learn about their country and build their faith through these novels. Congratulations to Mrs. Myrtle McPhee, Principal for embracing this bold initiative for the school.
P. A. Gibson Primary School
The Rotary Club of Eleuthera kindly donated copies of Trapped On Kooky Island to Grade 5 students in celebration of Literacy Month. The school added the exciting children's adventure to its curriculum in September. Present were members of the club, Ms. Margaret Swann (Principal), Ms. McCardy (teacher), students, and Mrs. Teri M. Bethel. Mrs. Bethel later visited with Ms. Edgecombe (grade 4 teacher) grade 4 and 5 students for a fun time of reading and Q & A's.
Having a great time reading and having a question and answer session with grade 4 Edgecombe. The children loved the Bahamian themed stories. Especially the one on hygeine.
“During my time as a school principal, I appreciated resources that provided genuine, lasting benefits for our students. We first learned about Teri M. Bethel’s children’s books when a local NGO gifted her book Trapped on Kooky Island to our Grade 5 class. The students’ reaction was immediate and eager. They were captivated by the story, and all could relate to the theme and its historical aspects. Students especially enjoyed it as a read aloud book. Many asked to take the book home to continue reading.
Encouraged by this success, we later integrated Courage to Overcome into our Grade 4 Family Life curriculum as a supplemental resource. The impact was undeniable. Students connected deeply with the stories, the teacher praised the guided questions for opening up meaningful discussions in a safe space, and parents reported on the impact that book had in the students’ lives, as well as a newfound love for reading in their homes.
Some may question whether these themes are too advanced for primary school. However, even at this age, students face many of the issues addressed in the book. I firmly believe that early intervention is essential. If one child improves personal hygiene, another is spared the pain of bullying, a youth is deterred from joining a gang, a teen avoids the consequences of early pregnancy, or a child finds the courage to report abuse—then I believe you would agree this resource is not only valuable but also indispensable. My experience has shown that equipping children early with wisdom and courage fosters responsible youth and lays a stronger foundation for their future.”
Mrs. Margaret Minnis (Former Primary School Principal, Eleuthera)
Celebrating Literacy Week 2025 with Grade 3 Nixon
Emma E. Cooper Primary School
While many children were out playing, this group was in summer classes, fortifying themselves for the new school term. We had a reading session and a book signing where I autographed books that we gifted to them.
South Eleuthera School
Deep Creek Primary School
Enjoyed my visit with Principal Ms. Sharmaine Alday at the Deep Creek Primary School in south Eleuthera. Was invited to share a few words with grades 5 & 6.
Global Outreach Ministries (Summer Camp)
What great fun we had! There were skits, treats, and, of course, a little reading. The older kids got to take home a book of their choice from a selection of titles made possible by a sponsor, including Trapped on Kooky Island, Go To The Head of the Class, and Courage to Overcome.
Eleuthera Library Book Drive
A Golden Gift: 50+ Bahamian Authors Stocked Eleuthera’s Libraries
In a massive display of "nation-building" through literacy, over 50 Bahamian authors joined forces to donate more than 550 new books to 17 public libraries across Eleuthera. Spearheaded by local author and publisher (InspirePublishing.org Bahamas) Teri M. Bethel, the initiative aimed to make high-quality, family-friendly Bahamian literature accessible to every corner of the island.
Inspired by a Young Leader
The spark for this island-wide book drive came from a local hero: De’Anntae Hepburn, a sixth-grade student from Tarpum Bay Primary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, De’Anntae started a virtual reading club to share her "secret" to success—reading—with her peers. Moved by her initiative, the Bethels decided to expand her vision, inviting authors from across the archipelago to contribute.
Highlights of the Initiative:
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Diverse Genres: The collection spanned everything from children’s adventure and Bahamian history to poetry, marriage enrichment, and inspirational devotionals.
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Renowned Contributors: The donation included works from iconic Bahamian voices such as Sir Randol Fawkes, Dr. Myles Munroe, and Dr. Susan J. Wallace, alongside dynamic first-time local authors.
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A "Gold Mine" for Librarians: Eleuthera’s librarians expressed immense gratitude, noting that receiving such a large volume of homegrown titles was a rare and invaluable gift for their communities.
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Support from Leadership: Dorcas Bowler, Director of Public Libraries, hailed the project as a vital bridge to knowledge and opportunity for the youth.
"Reading is the bridge to knowledge and the gateway to the world of opportunities... it is imperative that we instill in young people the love of reading." — Dorcas Bowler, Director of Public Libraries
The success of this drive proved that when Bahamian creators united, they could transform the educational landscape for the "leaders of tomorrow."