April 18th is coming and we could not fail to mention the national children’s book day. Do you remember the first book you read? Do you remember the first sensation of being transported to a new fictional world? Remembering or not it must have been in childhood that you started to enjoy magical moments within the universe of reading, and certainly, they helped you to build who you are today.
The date was chosen to celebrate children’s literature because, on that same day, in 1882 the writer Monteiro Lobato was born, who despite not only writing for children, is considered the father of Brazilian children’s literature for his great contribution in that category.
To celebrate this day, I will bring to you some books that probably marked your childhood:
- “Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo”
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Since this day honors Monteiro Lobato, I needed to bring his most celebrated children’s literary work. An incredible book filled with stories carried with Brazilian folklore. Who has never had fun with the adventures of Emilia, “the human doll”, and her friends Pedrinho and Narizinho around the place?
- “Turma da Mônica” – “Monica’s Gang”
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Here is one that could not be missing from our list! “Turma da Mônica (Monica’s Gang)” comics have marked generations and with good reason! Mauricio de Sousa masterfully created each iconic character in this group. Surely you already had an inseparable stuffed animal just like Mônica, were surprised by the number of watermelons that Magali could eat, hoped that at least one “infallible plan” of Cebolinha did not fail, and even wanted to escape the bath just like Cascão.
- “O Menino Maluquinho” – “The ‘Nutty’ Boy”
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The famous “Menino Maluquinho (The ‘Nutty’ Boy)” had much more than just a pan on his head. His mind was always full of ideas and mischief. Ziraldo managed to write in such a captivating way that any reader would feel a participant of the stories and adventures lived by “the boy with the wind in his feet” and his friends.
- “Le Petit Prince” – “The Little Prince”
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The classic “The Little Prince”, written by Frenchman Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, published in 1943, is still very present in children’s literature. Its surprisingly, timeless and significant message based on optimism, simplicity, and love for our planet has placed this book in the hanking of the three best-selling books in the world.
“The Little Prince” is one of the most famous and beloved characters of all time, who excites not only children but also adults with unforgettable teachings.
- “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
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I venture to say that this may be the most popular diary among children who are moving into a new phase of their life: adolescence.
There is no one better to tell stories about this phase than a child who is going through it. Thinking about it, the author Jeff Kinney decides, through the character Greg Heffley, to explore the possible situations (and most embarrassing) that can be found in this phase of life.
The diary that turned into a film brings comical stories that any child would easily identify with. Maybe that is why Greg’s Diary is so popular in our generation.
I hope that you have remembered the child in you, and just like me, traveled back to the days when your only concern was to know if Cebolinha could escape the Mônica’s stuffed blue rabbit or who was with “The Cheese Touch”.
The National Children’s Book Day is important not only to remind us of the good books we read in our childhood but also to encourage pleasure in reading from the beginning of life and develop critical and creative people.
Since this day was chosen to honor Monteiro Lobato, I will end with one of his quotes: “Who writes a book creates a castle. Whoever reads it lives in it!”
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The article above was edited by Isabella Gomes.
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