Romona Norton is the heart behind Coconut Tree Books — a children’s picture book brand built on curiosity, laughter, and the belief that every story can bring families closer together.

Raised in Georgetown, Guyana, among a rich mix of cultures, traditions, and warm community spirit, Romona grew up knowing that the greatest gift you can give a child is the feeling that they matter. That belief never left her.

After moving to the United States in 2001, she started her family — and everything changed. Watching her daughters discover the world, ask big questions, and light up at storytime sparked something she couldn’t ignore. In 2014, she wrote her very first children’s story — a small beginning that planted a very big seed.

Two years ago, that seed became Coconut Tree Books. Today, four whimsical picture books later, children ages 3–7 are laughing, learning, and exploring — each book coming with FREE activity pages to keep the magic going long after the last page.

But for Romona, children have always been bigger than any one story. She is the Co-Founder and President of Volunteers for Children, a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to giving children around the world access to education and the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty. Because she believes every child — no matter where they are born — deserves a chance to grow, dream, and thrive.

Through her books and her mission, Romona hopes to help families slow down, laugh together, and remind every child that their story matters.