Reverend Angela Palacious, left, presented a copy of her book, A Blessing a Day, to Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General, during a courtesy call at Government House, December 16, 2015. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

Philippa Moss will launch her first book "Benny and Bree: The Lost Toy" with a two-day signing event today and Saturday, December 5 at Joseph's Bookstore & Gallery at #53 Soldier Road north. The book is being released under Mascot Books.

According to the author, people interested in adding to their children's library with a quality book for young children and beginning readers will want a copy of the book which she said represents the type of material that she has found useful for her own children.

"I'm excited to be able to see my book in print and to share it with parents and others who love reading. With the holiday season coming up, a book makes a welcome addition to a gift list."

The book is suitable for children in the two to eight-year age group. The author said children will love listening to a reading of the tale, and beginning readers at pre-school and primary school age will welcome the opportunity to read the words for themselves.

The book will be available at Joseph's Bookstore & Gallery, Logos Bookstore, 100% Bible Bookstore and Bookworld & Stationers; and online at Mascot Books, Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Books-A-Million.

Doongalik Studios will host the book and CD launch of Henry Davis' "My Country, My Island Stories" on Sunday, November 22 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Henry Davis was born and raised in New Bight, Cat Island where he attended New Bight All Age School and Old Bight High School. The last son of 16 siblings, after graduating, Davis left Cat Island and relocated to Freeport, Grand Bahama where he currently resides.

The stories in Davis' book are all real and reflect the exciting life he experienced growing up in Cat Island where he was used to going in 'the field', going fishing on the boat, catching crabs, shooting marbles, running from 'sperid' (ghost), rolling tires and trains, singing and playing musical instruments.

Davis stated that in recent conversations with his three sons explaining what his childhood was like growing up on the island, he realized that they did not understand the unique life he had lived as a child, which, although challenging, was filled with many stories of value.

"One of the primary purposes for writing my book was to convey our trek as a people from way back, our system as a country and our government. History, culture, religion and love are some of the emotions you would experience, and the book will awaken memories that to some may have been asleep for some time," he explained. "To say you will laugh, I most certainly think so. To say you will cry or become emotional, I say yes!

"While writing my book, I found myself singing, and as a result of that, I wrote several songs based on the stories in the book, and a CD was also born which I recorded along with two of my wonderful lady friends. The music is in the traditional Cat Island singing style."

The music will be played at the book launch and Davis will be on hand to autograph his book.

For more information contact the gallery at 394-1886.

Doongalik Studios will host the Book Launch of Allan Murray's book 'The Colourful History of The Bahamas: A Souvenir Guide for Visitors' on Sunday, November 15 from 3-6 p.m. The origin of this new book can be traced back to the summer of 1972 when John Chaplin, headmaster of St. Andrew's School, asked Murray, a newly recruited history teacher, to introduce an eight-week course in Bahamian History.

During this time Murray's job was to prepare students for the British-based GCE examination so no Bahamian history was taught. It was not until 1992 that a Bahamian-based syllabus was finally introduced for the new BJC and BGCSE exams to test students' knowledge of Bahamian and West Indian history.

Murray's preparations for the new syllabus, guided by The Story of The Bahamas by Paul Albury, A History of The Bahamas by Michael Craton, and later the superb Islanders in the Stream by Michael Craton and Gail Saunders, led to the publication by Media Enterprise of his first textbook: Bahamian History Highlights - condensed and illustrated which became available for BGSCE history students in 1999.

About 10 years later, on a visit to Vancouver Island, Murray came across a little souvenir guide to the history of Victoria. It had only 34 pages, with just a little explanatory text, but it was illustrated with the most beautiful photographs of the city. An idea began to form - why not a similar little book about The Bahamas?

The history was already there, and plenty of pictorial material was available, thanks to his wife, Stephanie to whom the book is dedicated. Murray has been suitably inspired by her collections of old photographs, documents, prints and maps, some of which are reproduced by permission in the book.

Over the next five years, a number of people - family, friends, and associates - contributed to the development of the finished product.

The Colourful History of The Bahamas offers no new history but rather an introduction to many of the interesting characters who have come to the islands in years gone by. With 34 pages and short explanatory text, it is filled with more than 80 illustrations from the past and the present and will be an added bonus to the millions of visitors who come to The Bahamas each year.

At the launch, when Murray will be available to sign his book, some of the book's illustrations will be on display as well as a power point presentation which will be followed up later this month with an evening Author's Talk along with a more extensive power point presentation.

For more information please contact the gallery at 394-1886. Gallery hours are Monday - Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.