Dominican writer Yulianna Ramón Martínez presented her first children's book, ¡Toc! ¡Toc! Soy yo, Bebé, at Ágora Mall in Santo Domingo.
The presentation was held as part of the 6th International Children and Young Adult Book Fair of Santo Domingo during September. The launch event featured a live reading of the story and a book signing session for audience members.
Inspired by the personal experience of premature birth, the story offers a warm and intimate perspective on waiting, unexpected changes during motherhood, and the ability of families to navigate moments of uncertainty with love and hope.
The narrative is told through the voices of Mamá, Papá, and Bebé. It recounts the journey of a couple expecting their child with joy until their waiting period takes a completely different turn than they had originally imagined.
The early arrival of Bebé transforms their initial plans. The situation invites the family to discover that home life is built by learning to adapt to events that cannot be controlled.
The story uses simple language to address emotions that many families experience during an early birth, including fear, uncertainty, joy, strength, and the realization that schedules do not always follow plans.
In one of the central moments of the book, the parents come to understand amid conflicting emotions that time is not always logical and that sometimes one must simply let go.
Shared reading and family resilience
Illustrated by Shirley Hernández, ¡Toc! ¡Toc! Soy yo, Bebé was designed as a book for children and adults to share, read aloud, and discuss together as a family.
The storyline follows the young protagonist from his early arrival through new adventures and accomplishments, emphasizing family connection, resilience, and the happiness of growing up.
Speaking about her first published work for children, Ramón Martínez said the story grew out of the experience of premature birth, written with tenderness to offer hope to both young readers and adults.
The author noted that the story provides a way to put simple words to situations that can be difficult to explain to children. She added that it opens a space to discuss motherhood and fatherhood when reality does not unfold as expected.
Rather than framing prematurity solely around the fear it can cause, the book focuses on the inner strength that develops within families who navigate the experience together.
Background on venues and upcoming literary presentations
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is the nation's principal cultural and economic hub. Ágora Mall, located in the central district of the city, serves as a major commercial center that regularly hosts public cultural events, exhibitions, and book launches.
The International Children and Young Adult Book Fair of Santo Domingo is an annual gathering aimed at fostering early literacy and highlighting Dominican authors. Premature birth, defined medically as delivery occurring prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy, affects families worldwide and frequently requires emotional support alongside medical care.
The promotional schedule for ¡Toc! ¡Toc! Soy yo, Bebé will continue on September 29 with another official presentation at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair, commonly known as FILSD.
The Santo Domingo International Book Fair is one of the largest annual literary celebrations in the Caribbean region, bringing together international publishers, authors, and readers to promote literature and publishing culture in the Dominican Republic.
