Meet Veronica

A Legacy of Love, Learning, and Literacy

My name is Veronica—the author behind The Cool Reeds ®. Before I ever picked up a pen to write children’s books, I was a teacher, a daughter, and a dreamer raised in a Jamaican home where reading meant everything.

My father didn’t learn to read until he was 15 years old. But once he did, he never stopped. He read EVERYTHING he could get his hands on and taught himself Spanish and conversational Swahili. He went on to pursue two PhDs, become a passionate engineer and educator, and instilled in our family a deep respect for the power of words. My father built a home where books were not just shelves of paper—but proof that anything was possible.

Watching him fight to read and win changed me forever.
So did losing him before he could see this dream of mine unfold.

He passed away before I launched The Cool Reeds ®, but his story lives in every page I write. Every time I create a new book, I think of him—and I think of the children, like so many of my students, who deserve to feel proud, seen, and supported.

Everything I write is rooted in the love and learning he gave me.
The Cool Reeds is my love letter to legacy—and to the next generation.

I taught math in NYC public schools for over a decade.
I met brilliant kids with bright ideas and beautiful questions—kids who lit up when stories reflected them. But there weren’t enough books that did.

That’s why I started writing.

The Cool Reeds ® began as a mission to center children of color—to put their beauty, brilliance, and everyday experiences on the page. But make no mistake:

These books are for all children.
Because every child deserves to see the world through diverse stories—and every child benefits from learning empathy, curiosity, and confidence through representation.

From exploring numbers and manners, to learning about the body, navigating grief, or discovering safety and bravery—I write for the classroom and the couch, for parents and teachers, and most of all, for the kids who deserve stories that feel both exciting, empowering and real.

Today, The Cool Reeds ® is more than just a book collection.
It’s a growing world of printables, activity workbooks, early learning tools, and joyful, imaginative storytelling designed to help kids:

• Feel proud of who they are

• Get curious about the world

• Grow into bold, kind, confident thinkers

Whether your child is learning to count, exploring big feelings, or discovering the magic of their own body and voice—there’s a Cool Reeds book built just for them.

When you support The Cool Reeds ®, you’re not just buying a book.
You’re helping build a future where every child feels powerful, capable, and seen.
You're joining a mission rooted in legacy, literacy, and love.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in this work.
Now, let’s raise a generation of readers who know exactly how bright they are.

🧡 Veronica
Founder, Author, Educator
The Cool Reeds®