Writers receive first prize for children's literature at the Caracas Book Fair

Published at: 27/09/2024 03:11 PM

At the fifteenth Caracas Book Fair, the first “Velia Bosch” Children's and Youth Literature Prize was awarded, with the intention of encouraging reading among children in the country and paying tribute to the writer who dedicated her life to creating content for infants.

The activity was led by the mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez; the Secretary of Culture, Sports, Recreation and Tourism, María Elisa Domínguez, and the president of the Foundation for Culture and the Arts (FUNDARTE), Jeycelith Jiménez.

The competition was evaluated by three juries responsible for reading the 110 proposals submitted by each of its authors. The first place went to “The Cats of Sara Saltapericos”, by Hugo Colmenares, while Berta Barrios took second place with her children's literary work “Ana Imaginada”.

In addition, they awarded awards to Cristina Molinati, Beira Lisboa and to the coordinator of this first Children's and Youth Literature Prize, Carolina Álvarez, who were the judges of the competition.

The first place winner said that, “Sara Saltapericos's cats” brings together the memory of her childhood collectively, so he invited them to continue building the country. “We are rebuilding, moving forward. That's why we call Caracas, Caracas, the winner, the one that lights the roads of all of America,” he said.

Meanwhile, after achieving second place, Barrios thanked the Mayor's Office of Caracas and FUNDARTE for presenting this award, which motivates us to continue writing books dedicated to children. “I participated with a play called Ana Imaginada, which are, so to speak, the adventures and experiences of a Venezuelan girl in the garden of her house and in many imaginary spaces in her. This represents a commitment to continue writing for boys, girls and young people in Venezuela,” he stressed.

In this regard, Mayor Carmen Meléndez urged that these awards be extended to the next edition of the literary fair due to the high participation in the competition. In turn, he called on the people of Caracas to “strengthen children's literature . We had little bibliography of children's literature and we want to strengthen it,” he said.

He also called on all families to enjoy the Caracas Book Fair, installed at the National Art Gallery (GAN), until Sunday, September 29, with more than 70 stands, a children's pavilion, gastronomy and other activities.

VTV