Mobile library to transport children to fictional lands

Mobile library to transport children to fictional lands

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

With more than 200 translated European children's books, European Union National Institutes for Culture Thailand and the European Union, together with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, has recently launched the "EUNIC-Bibliobus", a mobile library that will go on tour for children around the city.

From fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, popular fictional characters such as Winnie-the-Pooh and Pinocchio, to one of the best-known children's literary works The Little Prince, this campaign joins Bangkok as this year's World Book Capital to not only bring books to children but also to introduce them to other countries and cultures. The bus currently holds about 600 copies of more than 200 titles contributed by 13 EU member countries and the EU delegation to Thailand.

"This is a project that has been initiated by several European countries," Goethe-Institut director Dr Norbert Spitz said.

"The idea is the European countries provide the books for children and the BMA contributes one of its library buses. And the BMA had an additional idea to include books from the Asean countries as well. The bus will go to various schools here and kids can take the books to read and return them afterwards so that they get to know literature from across the region."

With Bangkok as World Book Capital, Dr Spitz added that it was a good moment to encourage everybody to read more, focusing on the children. "We think if a young person enjoys reading and learning how to enjoy reading, he or she will always continue to read," he said.

"The main idea is to encourage the young generation to read fascinating books."

The bus schedule is set month by month and occasionally there will be activities such as storytelling and quizzes about the European children's books.

_ Kaona Pongpipat

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