Celebrate Día Leyendo

When I was a child, my favorite place in the house was a corner where I always found a rocking chair. I rocked myself back and forth while I read a book. Soon the rocking chair became a magic flying carpet that took me to many different places. I met new friends. I lived great adventures. In many occasions, I was able to touch the stars. All the books I read transported me to the entire universe.

I always visited the public libraries and bookstores in El Salvador. Books inspired me! I also wanted to write about the wonderful world that I visited in my readings. I started to write my own stories, poems and adventures in my diary. Every time I read and revised my stories, I found new adventures to tell about. Now, I write children’s books and it is an honor to share my books with children around the world.

I invite you to travel with your family this Día del niño- Día de los libros and every single day. Take a book and you will find wonders. Books are full of adventures, friends and fantastic places. Read and reach for the stars.

My six tips to help our children to become better readers:
    1.    Read and enjoy your books in front of your children. In this way, your children will want to read a book and sit next to you.
    2.    Read a book to your children every night before going to bed.
    3.    Talk with your children about their favorite part of the book or about their favorite character.
    4.    Visit the library or favorite bookstore and help your children to select books.
    5.    Create art projects about the books. You can do posters, puppets and dioramas.
    6.    Write and illustrate your own family books. In this way, your children will feel like authors. Share these books with family members.

The most important element in reading books to children is to expose them to wonderful stories, to culture and to open their own imagination. It is great when children can see themselves as heroes or the main characters in the story or when they ask you to read it “one more time”.

Books are full of adventures! Just open a book and you can fly, dream and reach for the stars".

René Colato Laínez