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Angelique J.G. Romou Launches First Children’s Book on International Literacy Day
“Saint Martin, I Love You Just the Way You Are” introduces young children to the beauty, culture, heritage and identity of the island they call home, Saint Martin.
PHILIPSBURG, SAINT MARTIN — September 2026 – Educator, author and long-time youth advocate Angelique J.G. Romou, MSc. will officially launch her first published children’s book, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in celebration of International Literacy Day.
The book, Saint Martin, I Love You Just the Way You Are: Yamir and Friends Explore Saint Martin, marks the beginning of an educational children’s series created to introduce Saint Martin’s youngest generation to the island’s culture, history, heritage, national symbols, people, natural environment and unique identity.
For Romou, the timing of the launch carries special meaning. September is the month in which she celebrates her annual Reading Is Lit with Angelique Romou literacy initiative, which she began five years ago. Throughout the month, Romou dedicates time to visiting primary schools, classrooms, and foster homes across Saint Martin, reading with children and encouraging them to discover the joy and importance of books.
“Launching my first published book on International Literacy Day, during the month that I dedicate to Reading Is Lit, makes this moment especially meaningful to me,” Romou said. “Literacy has always been much more than teaching a child how to read. Through reading, we can help children discover themselves, understand where they come from, dream about who they can become and, in this case, develop pride in the place they call home.”
Although Romou has written one other book, which deals with the topic of Eloquence and Etiquette, this publication represents a particularly personal milestone as her first published book.
The inspiration for the series was born from Romou’s deep love for Saint Martin and decades of work as an educator and youth advocate. Throughout her career, she has maintained that cultural identity and national pride should begin during a child’s earliest years.
“I wanted our children to be able to open a book and see themselves,” she explained. “I wanted them to see their island, their people, their flowers, trees, birds, beaches, monuments, traditions and culture. I want a child to turn every page and recognize something that says, ‘This is my home. This is Saint Martin.’”
At the heart of the first book is Yamir, Romou, Romou’s great-nephew and the inspiration behind the series. Along with his friends Giara, Dylan, Xoriyah, Bella and Xavier, Yamir takes young readers on a colorful journey of discovery around Saint Martin.
The series is especially designed for children from preschool through approximately second grade, when they are developing their early reading skills. The stories are intentionally short and accessible, with large print, child-friendly language and vivid, colorful illustrations.
Each page incorporates recognizable elements of Saint Martin so that learning takes place not only through the words, but also through the imagery.
The first book is the beginning of an educational series, envisioned to accompany children throughout the school year. Future books explore the themes such as, culture, history, our flags, Saint Martin’s national song, national flowers, trees, beaches, traditional foods, festivals, music, animals, birds, builders and local heroes.
Romou’s vision extends beyond storybooks. The series is developed as an educational resource with accompanying student activity/workbooks and teacher guides, giving educators practical tools to reinforce literacy while teaching children about Saint Martin.
Her goal is to see the series incorporated into the curriculum of schools across the island.
“From the cradle, our children should grow knowing the beauty, history, culture and strength of the island they call home,” Romou said. “When we teach our children where they come from, we help them understand who they are and the important role they can play in shaping Saint Martin’s future.”
The inaugural printing and launch have been made possible with the support of Pineapple Pete whom Romou thanked for coming on board as the primary sponsor of the first 100 books printed for the International Literacy Day launch as well as Skyfall fireworks for making the final production possible.
“I am tremendously grateful to Pierre of Pineapple Pete for believing in the vision and for helping me place these first books into the world,” Romou said and to Fabrice of Skyfall Fireworks for making the final publication a reality, because “Supporting a children’s book is ultimately an investment in a child, in literacy and in the future of Saint Martin.”
The book will retail for US$25, with proceeds being donated to the Start Smart foster home, with a particular focus on supporting and encouraging literacy among the children in its care, as well as going back into developing the series.
For Romou, this gives the project an additional purpose: one child’s purchase can contribute to another child’s opportunity to read, learn and grow.
The launch also marks the beginning of a larger vision, that of Rommar Publishing, creating and publishing material that educates, preserves stories, celebrates identity and provides future generations with books in which they can recognize themselves and their home.
Romou dedicates the series most importantly to the youth of Saint Martin and hopes the books will plant seeds of patriotism, national pride, cultural identity, curiosity and responsibility from the earliest years.
“Saint Martin is more than the place where we live,” Romou said. “It is our home, our identity, our heritage and our story. No matter where life takes me, Saint Martin will always be home. My hope is that through Yamir and his friends, our children will gain the necessary knowledge about their beautiful island and fall even more deeply in love with it.”
A date for the “Meet the characters of Saint Martin I love you just the way you are” will be given later.
Saint Martin, I Love You Just the Way You Are: “Yamir and Friends Explore Saint Martin” launches on International Literacy Day, September 8, 2026, and will be available for US$25 per copy.
Romou encourages more businesses to join her first donor, Pineapple Pete, and Skyfall Fireworks in making the remainder of the series a reality, interested donors/partners can contact Ms. Romou through Romouangelique@gmail.com or Telephone: +17215286006.
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