Agradecimentos – Acknowledgements

Agradecimentos

Agradecemos a todos os que contribuíram para a realização deste projeto:

Aos adultos que dedicaram seu tempo para ler e interpretar as histórias às suas crianças;

Às crianças que ouviram, leram, imaginaram as histórias e transformaram-nas em belos desenhos: vocês nos emocionam e nos inspiram;

Ao Consulado Geral do Brasil em Chicago;

Ao Council on Language Instruction da Northwestern University, pelo suporte que possibilitou a publicação deste livro;

Ao Departamento de Espanhol e Português da Northwestern University;

Aos editores externos deste livro;

E, em especial, agradecemos àqueles que nos deixaram histórias para serem contadas de geração a geração.

Foreword

Benoni Belli, General Consul of Brazil in Chicago

The seven stories presented in this book provide the reader with a rich and exciting perspective on Portuguese as a foreign language. Based on childhood memories, the literary proposal of students of Portuguese at Northwestern University is to bring together what has been most meaningful to them in learning a language: the importance of the emotional memory passed down from generation to generation.

The stories connect emotional memory to language learning. After all, language acquisition is mobilized by the experiences lived within the family. The tales take place in Mexico, the United States and even Japan. They are narratives that relate to us by our origins, games, and music, accompanied by inspiring drawings that will surely capture the reader with their sensibility.

The illustrations provided by children from many different corners of the world add even more affective connections to the substantial learning of our language. They bring to light shared affinities and interpretations with the greater purpose of encouraging the study of the Portuguese language and generating long-lasting bonds with the Portuguese language of heritage.

I hope that this work can be an inspiration for others not only in pursuing their own journey of learning Portuguese, but also to strengthen the cultural identity of speakers. A deeper and richer legacy of parents, grandparents, and great-grand parents will surely captivate everyone. Happy reading!