This year, Chilean author Isabel Allende embarked on a new adventure: the publication of her first children’s book.
“I like to write long novels, family sagas, historical novels full of events. That doesn’t work for this age,” he said.
“I learned that I don’t need to say everything, because what I don’t say, the illustration says.”
This year, he published simultaneously in English and Spanish, “Perla, la super perrita” — in English “Perla, The Mighty Dog.” It is a story about the friendship between a boy and his dog Perla. The illustration was done by Sandy Rodriguez.
Allende was inspired by one of his constant visitors: his neighbor Camila, three years old, who is always looking for a good story, and his dog Perla, who for nine years has taught him the meaning of good company and love.
It is Perla who saves the main character of this story, Nico Rico, a boy who learns to defend himself thanks to his pet. Pearl has two superpowers: making everyone love her and a very loud bark.
Allende’s avid readers always expect that touch of fantasy in her texts, but she says this is the big exception: It’s a very real story, and she said she has witnessed Perla’s superpowers, and so have her neighbors.
However, you can’t help but feel some magic in his writing process. Allende said that Perla “dictated the book in her language, which is Wow”, and translated it.
Read this story in English here
In brief words, Allende wants to tell all the children through Perla, who must defend themselves from everyday aggressors.
Allende says that one of his intentions when writing the book “was to put on the table a topic that concerns the child and that the child normally does not talk about. Give teachers and parents the opportunity to talk about it.”
She hopes that this way, parents and teachers can ask children if it has happened to them, or is happening to them at school.
“Children of any race can suffer from bullying… [Y también] “They can have a dog that they adore and that is their confidant, a cat or any other animal,” he said.
“A bit of the idea that with an animal one learns empathy, one opens one’s heart. The relationship between a child and an animal is extraordinary and I think it lasts a lifetime.”
And regarding reading at home, Allende recognizes that work hours can be an impediment to reading with a child on a daily basis, but the habit can be created little by little in free time, and always with love.
She recommends: “Sit him on your lap and show him the book, [y] the drawings so that the child relates affection, affection with reading.”
Listen to the audio of the conversation that we had with Isabel about her first children’s book, the inspiration behind it, the message, and what’s next for this new audience of readers.
