Who do you want to be?

BOOK REVIEW

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Author: Carlo Frabetti From the reader report by: Naho Kodukue

The most enchanting aspect of this work is the vivid, fast-paced conversation between the inquisitive, innocent Eva and Ray, a wise old man who wants to help Eva grow spiritually. Ray answers Eva’s barrage of questions in an easy-to-understand way and occasionally with a few jokes as he guides her to think for herself. As a reader, you put yourself in Eva’s shoes and you want to answer Rai’s questions yourself.

Through discussions about philosophy, technology and science, the book raises many issues facing children today. The book is for children aged 8 and older in Spain, but it might be hard for Japanese children to read by themselves because it features many names and quotes that they may be unfamiliar with. However, it presents a great chance for children to think deeply about the environment and society that surrounds them.

Though educational, the book is also structured like a mystery as Eva and Pinocchio try to unravel a web of intrigue. The book uses several devices to captivate the reader and ensure they don’t get bored. At the end of the final chapter, there is a farewell message from Rai that hints at his death. This offers us another chance to think about life and death.

The bright colors and simple lines of Joan Casaramona’s illustrations also rouse the imagination and make it an exciting treat to turn every page.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS JP

EDICIONES SM

Title WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE? ¿QUIEN QUIERES SER?

Author Carlo Frabetti Genre Children and Youth Pages 112

ISBN 978-84-13185-15-6 Year of publication 2020 Number of editions 2 Language Spanish Spanish retail price 12.50 €

Author’s biography: Carlo Frabetti was born in Bologna (Italy) in 1945. A mathematician and member of the New York Academy of Sciences, he has published over a hundred titles on various subjects, several of them on recreational mathematics and logic puzzles and many of them aimed at children and young adults. He has written, created and directed numerous TV programmes such as The crystal ball (La bola de cristal), The elf with the balloon (El duende del globo) and Tendencies (Tendencias). He has also written several plays and created and directed various popular science collections for children and young people. In 1998 he was awarded the Jaén Prize for Literature for Children and Young Adults, while in 2007 he won the El Barco de Vapor Prize for his work Calvina. He also won the Catholic Childhood Commission Prize, the UNEAC (Union of Cuban Writers and Artists) Prize and the Cervantes Chico Prize (in 2019) for his work over the course of his career. Synopsis: Eva is twelve years old. She’s very curious and is always asking questions. When she meets Ray, a somewhat wacky inventor, she discovers that not everything is as it seems and that answers are not always the most important thing.

Publisher who has published: SM

Publisher: Ediciones SM Since 1978, Ediciones SM has broadened its mission to publish educational texts by creating Spain’s most prestigious and high-quality collections of literature for children and young adults: El Barco de Vapor and Gran Angular. These collections bring together books that never age or lose their relevance and freshness.

Publishing rights available from: Fundacion Santa Maria. - CIF G28534204 Impresores 2, PE Prado del Espino, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid www.es.literaturasm.com Contact: Maria Paz Serrano Arrogante [maria.paz.serrano@grupo-sm.com, ] [marta.gallas@grupo-sm.com] Phone: (+34) 914 228 800

Countries where the rights have been sold: South Korea (Lime Co.ltd); Macedonia (Skaznuvalka Dooel Skopje)

Reviews and prizes: Barco de Vapor Prize 2020