WRITTEN BY
EMÍL IA, with me? will you play Aloma
ILLUSTRATED BY
SUSANA RODRIGUES
WHAT IF, WHILE ON VACATION ON A FARM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS, YOU FELT LIKE PLAYING? WHO WOULD YOU PLAY? IN THIS STORY, A CHILD LIKE YOU DECIDES TO PLAY WITH THE CHARACTERS FROM “THE YELLOW WOODPECKER FARM”. BUT WHAT WILL THEY PLAY? TURN THE PAGES TO FIND OUT HOW FUN THIS GAME IS!
EMÍLIA, EMÍLIA, WILL YOU PLAY WITH ME?
I‘LL PLAY WITH YOU, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE VISCOUNT OF SABUGOSA?
VISCOUNT, VISCOUNT, WILL YOU PLAY WITH ME?
I‘LL PLAY WITH YOU, BUT WHAT ABOUT PEDRINHO?
ABOUT THE BOOK
This book was specially designed to develop the pleasure of reading. Its format, size, illustrations, text, and theme are the result of a joint effort of different professionals to create an intelligent and fun work about Monteiro Lobato’s children’s work, bringing children and adults closer to this important Brazilian writer.
Here, the target audience is young children, but readers of all ages will also be delighted by these Brazilian characters that enchant everyone. The definition of the age group for which this book is intended is justified by the important learning that reading it can promote in relation to literacy and the initiation of children into the world of reading.
The structure and poetry of the text, composed of short and simple sentences that are repeated throughout the narrative, favor the memorization of its content. By mastering the text, the child will naturally feel encouraged to take the risk of reading, even when he or she is still unable to read formally.
The graphic design of the book presents visual elements that, for the child, serve as real “clues” to interact with the written text – such as the dialogue between the characters that is evenly distributed between the odd and even pages of the book and the use of capital letters in the main body of the text, which facilitates recognition of the letters of the alphabet.
The book also contributes to the dissemination of Brazilian literature by providing information and images about the universe of The Yellow Woodpecker Farm. The formation of a citizen begins with the appropriation of his or her culture. To know Lobato is to know Brazil!
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Initially, several studies were developed about the representation of each of the characters in this book. The idea was to compose original representations that would help the reader to increase his or her repertoire of images about each one of them. These sketches were made in pencil and then digitalized. During the digital treatment, strong colors were used that recall Monteiro Lobato’s books while highlighting the ludic character of the book.
On each page, the reader will find an illustration that complements the textual part of the work, in which the descriptions and reactions of each character as the narrative unfolds are highlighted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aloma
“Everything originates in dreams. First we dream, then we do.” This sentence attributed to Monteiro Lobato reveals some of the feeling I have when creating and writing a book for children. It starts with an idea, which becomes a dream, a goal. Then, with study and work, the text arrives, and after many people collaborate, the book is ready. A dream that only exists because of the work of many people who believe in it. And then there are the readers, the children, and the adults who accompany them and who also believe in the book and embrace the dream. I am an educator and editor, but what I most enjoy being is a writer for children, especially very young children.
The book Emília, will you play with me? arose from the desire to value our culture and make children get to know more about Brazil. After all, Monteiro Lobato’s works are part of our great literary and cultural heritage. It also arose from the desire to encourage the kids who are getting literacy skills to enjoy reading and want more and more books to “devour”. It was also born from the intention of making a book for the whole family – fun and humorous. A book to read and talk, read and look at, read and play, read and reread. A book to imagine and go beyond.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
SUsana Rodrigues
Draw, draw, draw. I have been drawing since I can remember, and I have collected piles of papers of all kinds with doodles and drawings, some better, some not so much, but training is training. To become a professional in the art of illustrating children’s books takes a lot of dedication and study. This is my third book published in partnership with Aloma and I have four other books of my own. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
AND, IF YOU WERE TO PLAY WITH THE CHARACTERS FROM “THE YELLOW WOODPECKER FARM”, WHAT WOULD YOU PLAY WITH? IN THIS BOOK, EMÍLIA, PEDRINHO, NARIZINHO, THE VISCOUNT, SACI, CUCA AND EVEN QUINDIM WANT TO PLAY WITH YOU!