Zoe the fairy is taking children on adventures to popular places in TT. Who is Zoe? She is a Trinidadian fairy, and her creator Liseanne Martin-Subero told WMN the idea to write a children’s book was inspired by her three-year-old daughter Zoe.
She said it was her intention to write something exclusively for Zoe, but it evolved into something she wanted to share with other children.
“I wanted the book to be local and not something that already existed. I wanted the fairy to connect with the age group, so the character is small girl who loves adventures and learning new things," Martin-Subero said.
The book, Zoe the Fairy’s Discoveries: A Trip to Maracas Beach, is the first of many others Martin-Subero plans to release for children up to seven years old, highlighting various places and adventures in the country and exploring the five senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.
“I tried to expose children to their five senses. Throughout the book Zoe would be using her senses to have a full experience.”
Martin-Subero said the book targets local aspects of TT and hopes it will encourage children to read and parents to read to their children.
A Visit To Maracas Beach is colourful with drawings highlighting the different aspects of the beach such as the sun, sand and sea, bake and shark and a drink of coconut water – things most people look forward to at the beach. While the covid19 restrictions have taken away visits to many places, Martin-Subero said the book is interactive and can help children use their imagination and bring to life the adventure.
[caption id="attachment_927997" align="alignnone" width="683"] Graphic designer Liseanne Martin-Subero turned to Amazon to publish her children's book Zoe the fairy's Discoveries: A trip to Maracas Beach. - PHOTO BY AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]
Martin-Subero, 30, began her career in graphic design 12 years ago after completing her associates’ degree in graphic design at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of TT. She told WMN there were some challenges along the way in her career, with a major one being the viability and opportunities for artists in TT.
Martin-Subero grew up in Cocoyea, San Fernando with her parents and four older brothers, who were all very artistic, but making a career in art was something that worried her father.
“My mom was a teacher and she also taught art. Growing up we drew a lot, and we appreciated a lot of artistic type content at home. With all of that in mind I did art as one of my subjects for the CXC exams.
“My father was worried about the job prospects in TT for artists. He did not expect me to make any kind of real money going into art or anything art related. I tried to find different avenues to get creative and graphics really appealed to me.”
While pursuing her degree, she started to work at the San Fernando City Corporation, as a graphic artist, and after seeing her work there her friends and family encouraged her to start her own
