“I want a gift. I want a Christmas phone,” Nia Lewis, 5, said as she waited for Santa to arrive.
Alas, she had to make do with a plush teddy bear, while the boys received Hovensa trucks. All the kids received a copy of “The Lesson Box,” a children’s book written by St. Thomas resident Tregenza Roach and illustrated by St. John resident Karen Samuel.

Both were on hand to autograph the books for the students.

“I was very fortunate to have parents and grandparents to read to me,” Roach said, speaking about the desire to pass this habit along to a younger generation.

Taking a minute out from signing copies of his book, he said it’s a Caribbean story about how children learn the “laws of life,” including how things may be different than they appear.

Samuel said the text of the book inspired her illustrations.

First lady Cecile deJongh, on hand to shepherd the children onto Santa’s lap, said distributing books for Christmas fits in with Government House’s literacy campaign.

And, for the rest of the story