Another World Book and Copyright Day

"As a lad," the elderly bookseller reminds, "we all queued up at midnight for a book about a wizard. It was the vogue."

The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling; Robinson Crusoe, by Defoe; Moby Dick, by Melville; Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson; The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, by Tolkien; Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl; Frankestein, by Mary Shelley, Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.. .These are some of the classics in English literature I have remembered today with my 1st year ESO students:

And my 2nd year Bachillerato students have also reflected on the power of words and reading:

Books always make great gifts

Here is Christmas time again, the holiday gift-giving season par excellence. And if all of us always strive for the best and most special present for our nearest and dearest, why not a book this year? A print book, I mean.

Electronic books could also work, but the emotional connection is greater with paper ones. In fact, we usually keep good memories of each single book we have in our home libraries: where and when we got them, who bought them to us... Besides, isn´t it a really depressing image seeing us more and more pushed towards a screen all the time? Wherever we look nowadays, we see everybody attached to their smartphones and digital devices, obsessed with downloading the latest mobile apps or snapping selfies, for instance. 

Books are affordable, they last a lifetime and they can provide hours of emotions, whatever the reader´s age. There are lots of must-reads in the market (and not necessarily the bestsellers of the moment; on the contrary, I´d be ashamed of getting some of these!), ranging from ageless classics to contemporary ones.

Books fire the children´s imagination and they also broaden the teens´ minds. Helping them to understand and deal with this increasingly complex world, they are essential for their growth and development process. But in today´s digital environment, where most of them would rather play a video game or surf the net chatting with friends or updating their Facebook profile, getting them to read may be a challenge. Their love of words and stories can be fostered introducing them to books that match their interests and hobbies. Once they discover they can travel through time, back and forth, with both historical and science fiction or they can become an expert on that subject they are mad about, books will become allies in their pursuit of adventure and learning. Furthermore, they will also realise that any dream can come true within the pages of a book. Can you imagine a more wonderful present than a world of dreams wrapped in pretty colourful paper?

Happy Christmas and happy readings!

Ebooks vs. Printed Books

Livraria Lello, a must-see in Porto, is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops of the world. There is no doubt everybody is impressed by its heavily decorated wooden walls and stained glass ceilings. Its beautiful spiral staircase is said to have been the inspiration for the Harry Potter moving staircases at Hogwarts School. In fact, J. K. Rowling probably visited this enchanting place quite often when living in the city. 

In today´s digital age, where e-books use is certainly on the rise, paper books are at risk of disappearing, and bookshops and libraries with them. Project Gutenberg started the first digital library in 1971, but it is nowadays when more and more readers opt for this medium. They claim plenty of advantages: when travelling the weight is lighter; if you own a lot of books, they take up much space; they are cheaper; your eyes are not so strained because you can change the size and darkness of the letters...

I think the point is not to give up reading, no matter if it is on an electronic screen or printed text. Personally, I still prefer having a small collection of my favourite books in paper neatly displayed on my bookshelf to having an entire library I will not have time to read in an electronic device. Besides, I will not get rid of my library cards yet. I strongly believe it is a wonderful experience when you browse through a bookstore in a quiet atmosphere, when you touch and hold a good book in your hands, get that comforting smell of paper and enjoy seeing a nice cover. I admit the convenience of ebooks, but I fear the sentimental value of reading may be lost.