Lizzy Lizard meets Minister of Education Lourens

Great Bay, St. Martin (August 4, 2013)—The Lizzy Lizard tour recently made a stop here at the office of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs Patricia Lourens (R). Minister Lourens graciously received 50 copies of the children’s adventure book from its author Robin Boasman (L). “Minister Lourens assured me that one copy would be archived and one would be sent to the Department of Culture, while the rest would be distributed to the various public schools,” said Boasman. The presentation (6.27.13) of the increasingly popular Lizzy Lizard was made in keeping with the April 2012 subsidy by the ministry toward the storybook’s publication, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

(Photo courtesy RB)

Lizzy Lizard by Robin Boasman, an adventure in making new friends in St. Martin

Author Robin Boasman and son (RB photo)  

Great Bay, St. Martin (June 16, 2013)—Lizzy Lizard by Robin Boasman is a “darling contribution to the children’s literature of the Caribbean,” said Jamie Alleyne, a learning and child development consultant in Dominica.

In Lizzy Lizard, little Lizzy leaves her sea grape tree house at the University of St. Martin (USM) because of a busy construction day on campus. Her walk takes her past the saltpickers monument, atop the Court House, and quickly turns into an adventure in and around Philipsburg, traditionally called Great Bay.

While on her happy trek, Lizzy meets endearing animal personalities such as Suzy Soldier Crab, Iggy Iguana, Missy Mongoose, and Pico Pelican. And “what an absolute delight to get the grand tour of St. Martin with Lizzy Lizard and her new friends!” added Alleyne in her review of the oversize hardcover book.

The colorful photo art illustrations in Lizzy Lizard further convey a sense of magic to places easily identified by boys and girls, ages 4 to 9, said Sample. The main photo plates are from the photography of Robby Cijntje.

Jamaican/Canadian author Garfield Ellis said that Lizzy Lizard’s courage and confidence to cross borders and meet others—regardless of size and other differences, represent a certain “Je ne sais quoi” that he experienced among the island’s people during the recently concluded St. Martin Book Fair. The award-winning novelist was the guest speaker at the Lizzy Lizard launch, attended by some 200 guests, said Sample.

According to the publisher, Lizzy Lizard will prove popular with confident independent readers; and with families who can spend time reading it together and seeing fascinating animals and places of St. Martin’s busiest city.

Author Robin Boasman said that the storybook grew out of an assignment from instructor Rhoda Arrindell while she (Boasman) was pursuing her BA in education at USM.Lizzy Lizard is possibly the first book authored by a USM alumna. According to Boasman, “it is highly important for children to read, but children will more likely read when they enjoy and can relate to what they are reading. This is how the story of lizzy lizard came about.”

Robin Boasman is a mother, and a teacher at Sister Magda Primary School. Lizzy Lizard is her first book. The Rombleys’ BEO Studio designed Lizzy Lizard, the  second children’s book designed for HNP.