Books for the holidays: reading, creating, imagining
Although holidays are an opportunity to disconnect from school routines, they are not an opportunity to disconnect from amazement and learning. They are the ideal time to approach reading at a different pace, through play, curiosity and the freedom to explore new worlds. This is how Ángela Guzmán, library professional at the Deutsche Schule Medellín (German School Medellín) understands it, and she has prepared a selection of books to accompany our students' breaks.
It's not just about finding the “right book”, but about sharing the moment of reading: reading aloud, reading with others, letting images inspire invented stories, letting teenagers discover the pleasure of a good comic or graphic novel. The key, Ángela tells us, is to respect the interests of each reader and encourage this bond through example and company.
That is why her selection includes titles for all ages, in several languages and in a variety of formats: illustrated albums, creative activities, short novels and comics. The slogan is clear: reading should not be a chore, but an enjoyment.
Below, we share the recommendations prepared by the school Library for reading, creating and imagining during these holidays.
Title: Demian
Author: Herman Hesse
Language: German and Spanish.
Synopsis: It is a novel that narrates in first person the existential problems of a child, an adolescent, a young adult who seeks like everyone else, to grow up, to choose correctly the steps that will lead him to his destiny, to the balance of opposites, to be a complete man. It is a story where love, friendship, happiness and, most importantly, the life that each one of us wants to lead, are learnt and questioned. The nature of the human being is complex, nobody is one hundred percent good or bad.
Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Language: English and Spanish
Synopsis: The young Dorian Gray is portrayed by his friend the painter Basil Hallward and from that moment on, the painting begins to undergo a series of transformations that reflect the changes in Dorian Gray's soul. The action is set in London at the end of the 19th century. This novel by Oscar Wilde is considered to be one of the greatest works of world literature.
Title: Memoir by Correspondence
Author: Emma Reyes
Language: Spanish
Synopsis: In these letters, written between 1969 and 1997, Emma Reyes undertook the arduous exercise of narrating the twists and turns and adversities she experienced during her childhood, articulating a story in which she projects a voice capable of moving through the mixture of innocence and serenity with which she recalls her tragedy.
Title: The Sunny Day Book.
Author: Jane Bull
Language: Spanish
Synopsis: A fun and entertaining book aimed at encouraging children's creativity, offering suggestions and easy activities to do in their free time and especially during the summer holidays. Each page presents the materials to be used and contains simple explanations accompanied by plenty of coloured, photographs, as well as the final result of the proposal.
Title: Nulli und Priesemut machen Urlaub
Author: Matthias Sodtke
Language: German
Synopsis: Nulli and Priesemut are planning their long-awaited holiday, but at first they cannot agree on the location of the trip. It is also necessary to agree on the type and amount of luggage. Finally, they head for the mountains, and an exciting change of scenery awaits them...
Title: Amulet
Author: Kazu Kibuishi
Language: English
Synopsis: A comic book that tells the story of Emily, who, together with her brother and her mother move into the old family house where their grandfather used to live a long time ago. Strange events quickly begin to surround them, among which is the mysterious disappearance of one of the family members, which will lead them to enter a new world, totally unknown and fantastic, inhabited by hostile creatures, they will have unexpected help, and their lives will change forever.
In addition to exploring these recommendations, we invite you to discover a wide variety of reading material available in our digital library Sora, a platform designed to encourage reading at all levels. There you will find books in several languages and for all ages, from illustrated classics to comics and contemporary novels. Click here to enter
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