This Christmas, children and teenagers can find a plan full of stories, adventures and literature. This is the 49th edition of the Children’s and Young People’s Book Fair of Madrid, which each year hosts exhibitions, workshops, author visits and storytelling to bring reading to the little ones.
All activities are free of charge and are held at the Madrid Municipal Printing House, located at Calle Concepción Jerónima 15. The space can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00 hours and from 17:00 to 19:30 hours, until January 11.
The motto of this edition is “Libros ConCiencia“(Books with Science) in reference to the books that aim to bring scientific information closer and make it more accessible. Even so, social themes are also included, which seek to raise awareness about relationships with others and the environment.
The tribute to Hans Christian Andersen
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This year marks the 150th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen, creator of unforgettable children’s classics such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Tin Soldier and The Emperor’s New Clothes .
To remember him, the Children’s and Young People’s Book Fair of Madrid has organized some talks and an exhibition focused on his visit to Spain in 1862. It can be visited until January 11 and recalls his stay in Madrid.
According to what the writer published in his diary, he stayed at the now disappeared Fonda de la Vizcaína, an establishment that sheltered hundreds of travelers during the 19th century. It was located in the center of the city, between Calle Mayor and Sol, and since 2012 a commemorative plaque can be found in the building, which recalls the writer’s link with the city.
More exhibitions, storytelling and workshops
Stories will be the main protagonists of this literary event, with workshops such as “Cuentos que curan” (Stories that heal) or the theater “El laboratorio de los investigacuentos”, which will require the participation of the public next Tuesday, December 30.
In January there will also be more activities, such as the musical storytelling “El río encantado” on the 3rd or the visit of the author Isabel Molina, who will present her book El señor del Cero on the 8th. Creative workshops include one dedicated to The Little Prince on the 3rd and another entitled “Maternal shoelaces” on the 10th of the same month.
Finally, there are several exhibitions that can be visited freely throughout the Madrid Children’s and Young People’s Book Fair. Some are dedicated to science, such as “Visionarias“, which recalls 33 hidden women inventors or “Bienvenidos a libros con-ciencia” (Welcome to books with science). There are also exhibits dedicated to the National Children’s and Young People’s Literature Awards and to the writer Monserrat del Amo.