Earlier today, I received a message from Gramps Morgan, proudly announcing a new project aimed at the youth — a children’s audiobook titled The Gingerbread Mon, in collaboration with the TropiKids family. Naturally loving books, I reached out to Gramps to hear more about this seemingly unexpected move into the world of storytelling for kids.
“I started to build a whole new audience with my album Positive Vibration, and that’s really where this journey began,” Gramps shared with World A Reggae. “Reggae has always had the power to go far — the elders showed us that — and now I’m continuing that mission in my own way.”
The idea came to life while Gramps was performing on the Gulf Shores of Alabama — not your typical reggae stop. It’s a region that mostly hosts country artists as Gramps explained, but it’s also home to the
Parrot Head community: the loyal fan base of the late Jimmy Buffett. After his show, Gramps connected with Kristin McFadden, a writer working closely with the Radio Margaritaville family, and what followed was a natural collaboration under the TropiKids umbrella.
“The whole Trop Rock scene is almost like a cousin of reggae,” Gramps explained. “It’s their own interpretation of the island sound, and it just felt like a natural connection. When Kristin approached me with this book, I was all in.”
The Gingerbread Mon marks the first of what Gramps hopes will be a series of projects introducing children across the globe to Caribbean culture through literature and music. For him, this isn’t just a side project — it’s a vision he’s carried for years.
“Doing a children’s book has always been a dream of mine — even from when I started in music as part of Morgan Heritage,” he said. “Music is such an intricate part of society, and I believe it can help children not just learn, but fall in love with learning. Especially those who’ve never heard a Jamaican accent, or don’t know anything about our culture.”
The process of recording the audiobook brought a new kind of excitement. “It was incredible,” he said. “I’ve always admired voice actors who bring animated characters to life. This was my chance to do that — to bring the Gingerbread Mon to life with Jamaican flavor. I’d love to do more voiceover work in the future… Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon — who knows?”
Gramps’ fans, whom he affectionately calls Islanders, are now joined by a growing audience of Parrot Heads — the community of Jimmy Buffett lovers who welcomed him into their world.
“If you don’t know who the Parrot Heads are,” Gramps explained, “think of them like the ‘Beyhive’ for Jimmy Buffett. They’ve embraced me and my music. These are people who love the islands, love the Caribbean lifestyle, and they’ve been instrumental in supporting this project.”
With support from Radio Margaritaville, Halo Entertainment, and Dada Son, the project is more than just a book — it’s a bridge between cultures, generations, and communities.
“I implore all Caribbean lovers and island lovers around the world — go and get The Gingerbread Mon book. If you love reggae, if you love your kids, this is something special.”
The book, written by Kristin McFadden, Illustrated by Donny Brewer, and read by Gramps Morgan, is now available on iTunes Books and Audible, with a physical copy available through Tropi-Kids.com, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
But Gramps isn’t stopping there.
“I’m looking forward to visiting schools in Jamaica and across the Caribbean to read this book in person. This is just the beginning…”
By Danny Creatah
