Statia native debuts children’s book series inspired by island childhood

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – Memories of growing up on St. Eustatius have inspired Statia native Jacintha Brice to publish her first two children’s books, launching a planned six-part series celebrating island life through the eyes of two young siblings.

Brice, daughter of Lynette Anson-Leerdam and James Nathaniel Brice, lived on St. Eustatius until the age of 16. Drawing on her own childhood adventures with her brother, Errol, she created The Adventures of Errol and Jacintha, a series set on Statia during the 1970s and 1980s.

Seen through the eyes of eight- and nine-year-old Errol and Jacintha, the stories introduce young readers to the island’s traditions, family life, faith, food and close-knit community. While firmly rooted in Statia, the books also reflect experiences shared across the Dutch Caribbean, offering readers a glimpse into a way of life that many islanders will instantly recognize.

The series opens with The Well and Our First Cake, published in both English and Dutch. Four additional books are planned to complete the collection. The official launch will take place on July 1 in the Netherlands. Shortly afterwards, the books will also become available on St. Eustatius and the other Caribbean islands. Copies will initially be available through Lynn’s Bakery on Statia, while readers in the Netherlands can order the books online or directly through the author.

Brice is currently staying in Zwolle to be with her children, but remains closely connected to her home island. She continues to work for the family business, the well-known Lynn’s Bakery, and also ensured that her own children, Matteï and Mae Rubia Kerkhoff, experienced island life firsthand by spending part of their early teenage years growing up on Statia.

Hard work

Creating the books, she says, required far more time and perseverance than many people might expect.

“It really took a lot of work,” Brice said. “People don’t always realize how much time and energy goes into creating children’s books. There were moments when I had to stop, catch my breath and encourage myself to keep going. It was hard, but seeing the finished books makes it all worthwhile.”

Illustrations

The colorful illustrations were created by Daniella Simmons, a Trinidadian-born illustrator who was raised on St. Maarten and is currently studying Illustration at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. Working with watercolour, gouache and collage, Simmons brings the adventures of Errol and Jacintha vividly to life through richly detailed illustrations.

For Brice, the books are about more than childhood adventures. They are intended to preserve memories of growing up on St. Eustatius while introducing the island to readers who may know little about it.

“I also wanted Dutch readers who know little or nothing about Statia to discover the island through these stories,” she said. “I hope visitors can also gain a better understanding of our history, our culture and what it was like growing up here.”