Bonabc

Mi Buki di Boneiru, a great alphabet book for all ages! It was created by Steffen Maas and offers beautiful drawings alongside the words in Papiamentu, Dutch and English.

In Bonaire, available at

Bruna Bookshop

In Aruba, available at

Plaza Bookshop, (Dakota)
Superfood
Intertoys (above Superfood)
DeWit & VanDorp (Mainstreet/ Dakota/ San Nicolas/ Noord)
The Deli Counter (Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital)
Divi Village & Sundeck
La Cabana
Tamarijn Resort
Holiday Inn Resort
Cocosol (Renaissance Mall),
Island Breeze (Aruba Airport)

Mi Buki di Boneiru pictures many vivid aspects of Bonairean culture, by clear and colourful drawings of unique birds and animals, monuments and sites, persons, food, flora and music culture. Under each drawing you can read the common word or local name in (Bonairean) Papiamentu as well as its English and Dutch translation. No matter if you are living in Bonaire or if you are a curious passer-by, the book welcomes you to connect with the island's character and language. Also when you are a parent, a grandparent or a teacher, Mi Buki di Boneiru helps you to teach your children about Bonaire and enjoy Papiamentu together.

The creator of this book, Steffen Maas is living and working in Aruba and The Netherlands. For many years he has practiced illustration, photography and graphic design, after graduating in the Netherlands with a master’s degree from St. Joost school of Art in Breda. Steffen has designed books, exhibitions as well as memorial objects in public space, while teaching at several art academies at home and abroad. He also teaches ‘visual storytelling’ workshops at various universities in China, creating unexpected dialogues with Chinese students about their culture.

Steffen is the author and designer of ArubABC, BonABC and CurABC – a striking design and local language project that teaches children about culture of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. The ABCs promote the characteristics of each island to its residents as well as to visitors from abroad. While stimulating literacy, reading and writing Papiamento to kids, they also create environmental awareness and appreciation of local culture. The Prince Bernhard Culture Fund (Dutch Caribbean Dept) supports the lauch of this unique ABC project, enabling Steffen Maas to further establish the program by the help of local stakeholders and sponsors. The Aruba Government Education Dept has adopted the ArubABC book s by providing them to all primary schools in Aruba. World Literacy Foundation donates to the book productions and instigates further private funding to implement the concept to other islands in the Caribbean.

BONAIRE donations

Schools, educational professionals or non-profit community workers in Bonaire who are interested to subscribe for a book donation of Mi Buki di Boneiru, are invited to contact Steffen Maas at mail@abcbooks.org.

In Aruba, the following schools in Aruba have received our donation of multiple copies of Mi Buki di Aruba: Agnes, St. Aloysius, Amalia, JN Andrews, Anglo, Sta Anna, Arco Iris, Arubanita, Aurora, Ayo, Bon Bini, Cacique Aterima, Cacique Macuarima, Caiqetio, Cayena, Conrado Coronel, Cristo Rey, St. Dominicus, Dornasol, Emmaschool, Faith Revival, Sta Famia, Fatima College, Felipe Tromp, Filomena, Fontein, St. Franciscus, Frère Bonifacius, Imelda, Jacinta, Kudawecha, Kukwisa, Laura Wernet, San Hose, Maria Goretti, Mariaschool, St. Michael, Mon Plaisir, Nos Paraiso, Pastoor Kranwinkel, Ora Ubao, Paso Pa Futuro, St. Paulus, Pieter Boer, Pius X, Prome Paso, St. Rosa, Rosario, Sagrada Curazon, De Schakel, Rayo di Solo, Sta Teresita, Washington, Graf von Zinzendorf

how you support bonabc

By purchasing any art work, stationary gift or educational item of ArubABC, BonABC or CurABC, you give your personal support to further develop attractive and effective class materials by Steffen Maas | ArubABC, and implement them in schools on the islands.