Children's Book Clubs in Trinidad and Tobago — What to Look for and Where to Find Them
If you have been searching for a children's book club in Trinidad and Tobago for your child — you are not alone. And if you have found that search more difficult than it should be, that is also not a surprise.
Quality children's book clubs in Trinidad are not as widely available as they should be. The reading culture exists — Trinidad has produced remarkable writers, storytellers, and literary voices. But the structured, facilitated, small-group reading experience that turns a reluctant reader into a passionate one — that is still relatively rare.
This blog is designed to help you understand what a good children's book club in Trinidad and Tobago looks like, what to ask before enrolling your child, and where to find one.
What to look for in a children's book club in Trinidad
Not all book clubs are the same. A child who attends the wrong book club — one that feels like an extension of school, that assesses rather than invites, that covers books with no connection to their world — may come away more resistant to reading than before.
Here is what a genuinely effective children's book club in Trinidad should offer:
Small groups
A book club with twenty children in it is not a book club — it is a class. The magic of a book club happens in conversation, and conversation requires a space small enough for every voice to be heard. Look for a group of no more than ten children.
Culturally relevant books
Trinidad and Tobago has a rich literary tradition and a growing community of local children's authors. A good book club in Trinidad should include Caribbean and local voices — books that reflect the world your child actually lives in. If every book on the reading list was written somewhere else about someone else — ask why.
A skilled facilitator
The quality of the discussion is determined by the quality of the questions. A good book club facilitator does not lecture. They ask. They listen. They create the conditions for children to think out loud without fear. Look for a facilitator with genuine experience working with children in the 9 to 12 age group.
A focus on enjoyment — not assessment
If your child comes home from book club feeling like they just had another test — something is wrong. A book club should feel different from school. Children should leave wanting to read ahead, wanting to find out what happens, wanting to share what they thought with someone at home.
A connection to books they can actually access
A book club that assigns books that are impossible to find in Trinidad is not serving its members well. Look for a club that has a clear relationship with a local bookshop or resource hub — so that getting the book is as easy as getting to the session.
Children's Book Clubs in Trinidad and Tobago — Where to Find Them
The Desha AcademyChildren's Book Club — San Fernando, Trinidad
The Desha AcademyChildren's Book Club is one of the few dedicated, facilitated children's book clubs available in South Trinidad — and it was built with every one of the criteria above in mind.
The club meets regularly at Carlton Centre, San Fernando, and is open to young readers ages 9 to 12. Sessions are kept small — a maximum of ten children — ensuring every child has a voice in every discussion.
Every book used in the club is personally selected by Candace Francis — founder of The Desha Academy and Bold Print Bookshop — with the specific age group, reading level, and conversation potential in mind. We prioritize local and Caribbean authors, ensuring that the children in our club regularly encounter stories set in their own world, written by people from their own community.
Books are available through Bold Print Bookshop — our boutique children's bookshop in San Fernando — so families always have a direct, local way to access the reading material.
The Desha AcademyChildren's Book Club is not an extension of school. It is a space where children discover that reading is something that belongs to them — not something that is done to them.
Questions to ask before enrolling your child in a book club
Before committing to any children's book club in Trinidad and Tobago — ask these five questions:
How many children are in each session?
Who facilitates the sessions and what is their background working with children?
How are books chosen and are they available locally?
What does a typical session look like — is it discussion-based or assessment-based?
How do you handle a child who is reluctant or shy about sharing?
The answers will tell you everything you need to know about whether the club is right for your child.
To find out more about the Desha Academy Children's Book Club or to reserve your child's place — WhatsApp us at 778-9388 or visit thedeshaacademy.com.
Books for the club are available at Bold Print Bookshop — visit boldprintbookshop.com or WhatsApp us to find out what is currently in stock.
Read more: The Benefits of Joining a Children's Book Club — What Every Parent Needs to Know
Read more: How Book Clubs Improve Reading Comprehension — And Why It Matters More Than You Think