Donald Teuma-Castelletti
CAMPBELL’S BAY
April 28, 2018
Guests to a bookstore in Campbell’s Bay were in for a treat on Saturday morning, when the MRC Pontiac’s warden joined them for a book reading and craft session.
Warden Jane Toller was the guest reader at Lighthouse Bookstore’s event, where kids followed along to Nick Rand’s Twinkle, before decorating some stars of their own.
“I’ve been doing these [readings] since November of last year,” said Tracey Latreille, owner of Lighthouse Bookstore. “I had Jane Toller come in and she did awesome.”
Reading Rand’s book, Latreille said the children were very engaged and attentive as they followed along with the protagonist befriending a star, before helping return it home to the sky.

“Jane was prepared to read in both French and English, but she didn’t end up needing to read in French,” said Latreille, explaining that all the children were fluent in English.
As well, Toller made sure to keep the kids involved with the story as she went along.
“She’d ask questions and have the children shout out answers,” added Latreille.
Following the story, the children had the chance to decorate stars of their own, adorning jewels onto popsicle stick stars however they fancied.
The stars become a collaborative project of sorts between the children and some local seniors, through Latreille’s efforts. Working with a group from the Valentine Centre and the Oasis Reed Street Home, both found in Campbell’s Bay, she had the stars painted and built, ready to go for the kids to decorate.
While inviting families out for literacy days at the bookstore is nothing new to Latreille, the new spin on this one was the welcoming of Toller as the guest reader.
“This is the first of many guest speakers,” added Latreille.
With the hope of continuing this new style, she will be looking to invite more community leaders to the bookstore for the readings and crafts, in the future.