Local author Donna Belanger was on hand at Pictou Library to bring the joy of reading alive to children on Family Literacy Day Saturday.
Belanger, who wrote Angus McD and his Adventure at Sea, was one of several people, including library staff and board members, who brought stories to life as kids, and imitated cartoon animals from gorillas to elephants.
“I would like to give the message to parents to spend time and read with your children as much as you possibly can,” said Belanger. “It’s a wonderful thing to do with kids, it’s a wonderful way to end your day at bedtime and it also instils a habit of reading.”
Belanger’s adventure fable is about a Scottish boy named Angus, who sails with his family on the ship Hector in 1773 from Scotland to Pictou County for a new life.
While Angus was a fictional character, 189 Highlanders crossed the Atlantic from Scotland to what is now Pictou County. The crossing took 11 weeks and the ship ran into a severe gale off Newfoundland.
It was in Pictou County that modern Nova Scotia was born and the Hector remains, moored in the harbour for tourists just a few hundred metres from the library.
It is here that Belanger has spent many years volunteering, and the ship inspired her book about Angus and his adventures at sea.
“I always found it hard to explain to children what the voyage was all about,” said Belanger.
Other stories read at Pictou Library included a non-fiction book about a tortoise and hippo, an ‘I spy’ book with animals and a third book that brought children in on the action.
“Family Literacy Day is about families, grandparents, parents and children all sharing their joy and their love of reading,” said branch assistant Bonnie Allan.
