"Like the mango, the mongoose came here from India," read Patricia Allen, wife of the governor general, as she related the story of the mongoose's journey to the Jamaican cane field to students in class 5W1 at the Half-Way Tree Primary School.

The students stared with wide-eyed astonishment as they listened keenly to the captivating story from the book, Aesop and His Fables and Other Stories. What seemed even more fascinating for many of the students was the fact that it was being read by the wife of the country's governor general - Jamaica's first lady.

This was the scene at the St Andrew school yesterday morning during the launch of the GraceKennedy Limited and Western Union's National Reading Week under the theme, 'Read Today for a Brighter Tomorrow'.

Exciting books

The students had the privilege of having individuals from various sectors visit their school to read to them from a number of exciting books. These included Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, Dr Peter Phillips and Douglas Orane, president and chief executive officer of GraceKennedy Ltd.

The enthused six-year-olds in Marion Shaw-Harris' grade-one class were just as intrigued by Simpson Miller as she read to them. The opposition leader read stories from two books, Feet are not for Kicking by Elizabeth Verdick and Little Lion Goes for Gold by Jamaican author and educator Kellie Magnus.

Simpson Miller could hardly be seen as she was tightly encircled by the students, all wanting to be close to the political figure, as well as to get a glimpse of the

brightly coloured pictures in the storybooks.

Catherine V. Malcolm, principal of the school, said she felt privileged to host the launch of the National Reading Week programme.

She said it had become increasingly challenging for educators to get students to show an interest in reading.

Difficult to convince

"There are so many gadgets available competing for their attention that we find it very difficult to convince them that reading is an important and pleasurable activity," she said.

Malcolm said the presence of so many important and successful members of society at the school would help to send a positive message about books and reading.

Throughout the week, employees of the GraceKennedy Ltd will visit a school from each parish where the town's mayor will read to the students.

On Friday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding will also read to students at the North Street Primary School in downtown Kingston.

The National Reading Week activities are part of GraceKennedy's 'I PLEDGE' project, which is designed to support the development of primary education in Jamaica.