ARTEAGA, COAHUILA.- Eyes that open with newly discovered books, laughs that fill the halls and small hands that leaf through their first pages: thus live girls, boys and adolescents Coahuilenses their visit to the International Book Fair of Coahuila, a tour that has become an unforgettable experience, both for them and for their teachers.
From an early hour, school trucks arrive at the fairgrounds, many from rural communities where access to cultural events is limited. “For many of my students, it is the first time that they see so many books together, that they attend an artistic workshop or listen to poetry live,” says teacher Rosa María López, of a rural team by General Cepeda. “They arrived with their eyes shining with emotion, asking if they could really touch the books, if they could take any home.”
In the inspiring pavilion, the little ones immerse themselves in activities that are especially thought of to foster their imagination: storytelling, literary and dynamic games that make them active participants of the stories. In the Hall of Poetry, they listen carefully to the verses that come alive in warm and close voices, while in artistic workshops they transform paper, words and color into their own works.
Artistic events – which include Guiñol theater, puppets and children’s music – wake up laughs and enthusiastic applause. The tour of the editorial area allows them to know local and national publishers, and more than one stops astonished in front of enlightened covers that arouse their reading curiosity.
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The teachers agree that this experience transcends the classroom. “These types of activities open doors that sometimes we did not even know that they existed. Seeing my students interact with writers, asking in the workshops, choosing a book for their own pleasure, it is something they will never forget. We do not,” says teacher Cristina Arreola, of a primary in Jiménez, Coahuila.
These school visits are part of an effort from the Government of the State of Coahuila, headed by Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas, to bring girls, boys and adolescents closer to reading, culture and arts, recognizing that access to these spaces is essential for their integral development.
Thanks to this initiative, thousands of small readers discover that books are also doors: to other worlds, new dreams, and a future with more imagination and knowledge. (El Heraldo)
