Talking about books

Dear grandmother,

Last week was the International Children’s Book Day. An international event celebrated on April 2, due to the date on which the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen was born.

A way to warn of the importance of reading and the fundamental role of books to childhood.

I’m so happy when I see people my age tell you: “Your books, which I read as a child, have changed my life. They aroused the taste for reading in me ». As this week happened, when the inauguration of your exhibition at the Pombal Municipal Library.

No wonder you get books, from first editions, which have already been autographed for grandparents, later to mothers and now for their children.

I have the idea that, as a child, I have read the books “The Ugly Duckling”; “The Girl of the Phosphorships” and “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen, among others. Later I read Anita’s books (which, however, was renamed Martine).

However, I think the books that most marked my youth were the collection “The Five” by the writer, Englishman Enid Blyton.

You, who published the first book, “Rosa, My Sister Rosa”, in 1979, and today you have a hundred published books, remaining to be an enriching, inspiring and aggregating presence in all books -related initiatives.

You are considered by many to be «A Matrix of Caraters and Literary Life for so many generations of readers and readers». With the books “Chocolate Smell; Vanilla; Cinnamon and Strawberry” awakened the readers to the 5 senses. Your biggest legacy is that your books are translated into immense different languages, with messages to all people.

You write in magazines, books and newspapers. You are transverse to grandchildren, children and parents.

I thank all who embrace the challenge of creating initiatives related to the importance of books.

Kisses

Dear grandson,

I am very happy with the inauguration of the exhibition about my life and work at the Pombal Municipal Library.

I loved meeting the mayor, Pedro Pimpão, who has read many of mine books, and the whole team.

Throughout my life, I have been a journalist who also writes books. I am very happy to be transverse to several generations.

When my grandchildren were small lived many years in England, in the city of Leicester. They lived near the Great Watersstone Bookstore. On the top floor of the bookstore there was a coffee. We entered, chose a book we liked and went to coffee to read it. When we left, if we were very much like the book, as we paid the coffee also paid the book and it was ours. If we didn’t like we would let the book stay there – and we only paid the coffee. Of course there was also a chance to come back the next day (and the other, and the other) until we read the whole book. And we never paid for that anymore.

And there were many bookstores that also did something funny: at the time of the closure, several crates at the door with books that had a defect (a minimal thing, a repeated page, a little spoiled) and the passing people could take those who wanted, without paying a penny.

I am already very happy to have, here in Ericeira, at the entrance of Parque de Santa Marta, a small bookcase with books that we can take – and return after read. And also leave our books that we will not reread and can serve for other readers. In addition, on Sundays, we have a carvingist in one of the main streets where we can buy books (many current and all in very good condition) and then return them (and take others, and then pay a symbolic amount) if we don’t want to reread them.

There is no excuse here not to read and in Pombal either.

Kisses