STRONGER OR WEAKER? STRONGER OR WEAKER?
ILLUSTRATED BY WRITTEN BY Aloma]
L alan B essoni
STRONGER OR WEAKER, WHICH ONE DO YOU PREFER?
STRONGER
STRONGERRR
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Stronger or weaker?” is an illustrated narrative that poetically showcases the importance of play in early childhood, especially outdoor play with toys that engage their senses and stimulate spontaneous and creative movement. The back-and-forth motion of a swing primarily involves the sense of balance, linked to the development of attention, concentration, and even memory. When a baby can maintain their balance, they can explore their environment more efficiently, stimulating their cognitive and sensory development. The narrative also explores the relationship between a father and daughter through the swing game that children often adore, during which they often ask to “go stronger.”
This game involves a sense of speed, adding a new sensory dimension for the baby and awakening their interest and curiosity. It's a playful game in which fantasy becomes an ally to the symbolism of the young child: "the stronger I go, the more I imagine." As the illustrations progress, readers will witness the affection and tenderness between the characters. For babies and young children, "Stronger or weaker?" transforms elements of their daily life into protagonists of a story that helps them develop feelings of belonging, constructing their own meanings for the reading moment and the book itself.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ALOMA is an author, translator, and editor of children’s books. Her work has been recognized by the Ministry of Education of Brazil, the UNESCO Chair Seal, and the UN Library-Agenda 2030. As an author of books for babies and young children, she enjoys publishing books that play with words and reveal the poetry of the Portuguese language and other languages in which she publishes her books. In “Stronger or weaker?”, she drew from her experience as a mother to create a verbal narrative supported by a beloved phrase for children: “stronger,” which, in this story, transforms into a playful nursery rhyme. Her daily family life also influenced the creation of visual storytelling that portrays the affection between father and daughter, as well as exploring activities that stimulate the sense of balance and imagination of babies and young children. It’s a tribute to childhood and to the child who grows and discovers the world around them.
LALAN BESSONI is an illustrator who works from home, surrounded by plants, paper, paints, and colored pencils. The aspect he enjoys most about his work is drawing for children, as it allows his imagination to soar while he listens to music. He believes that music makes everything more fun and colorful. Lalan comes from a city further south in Brazil, bordering Argentina and Paraguay, and surrounded by two rivers. Since he was a child, he dreamed of being an artist, and today his drawings are spread across various places around the world. He studied at the European Institute of Design (IED) in São Paulo and took several painting and drawing courses over the years. Lalan believes that through art, we can make the world a slightly more fun and colorful place.
