Aragon Students Shine in ‘Little Giants of Reading’ Competition, Promoting Literacy and Well-being

The Aragon Library recently hosted the final of the ‘Little Giants of reading’ initiative, a competition showcasing young readers from across the region. Claudia Ara,a student from Santa María del Pilar School in Zaragoza,emerged victorious and will represent Aragon at the national final during the Madrid Book Fair on June 6.This program, alongside initiatives like the ‘xq you care’ program by the Ibercaja Foundation, the Ministry of Education of the Government of Aragon, and ASAPME, highlights the critical importance of fostering literacy and addressing mental health challenges among schoolchildren.

With rising concerns about harassment, including bullying and cyberbullying, preventative measures are more crucial then ever. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of prevention programs that strengthen protective factors in adolescents, considering them the “antidote of the epidemic of mental health problems” in today’s society. In response to this pressing need, various organizations are collaborating to promote both well-being and literacy among young students in Aragon.

‘xq you care’ program Prioritizes Student Well-being

The Ibercaja foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Government of Aragon and ASAPME (Association Aragonese Pro Mental Health), is actively promoting health, youth well-being, and preventative education. Thier collaborative program, ‘xq you care,’ has been dedicated to fostering emotional well-being among schoolchildren for the past three years. The program aims to conduct 80 workshops by 2025, reaching over 2,400 students.

‘Little Giants of Reading’ Captivates Aragon

The final of the ‘Little Giants of Reading’ competition, held at the Aragon Library, has generated significant enthusiasm among students, teachers, jury members, and organizers. This national initiative already involves schoolchildren from eight autonomous communities, with Aragon participating in a pilot experience this year.

eight Aragonese educational centers, representing the three provinces, were selected for their extensive involvement in reading activities. these schools included:

• Santa Ana Colegio (Huesca)
• CEIP joaquín costa (Monzón)
• CEIP Pierres vedel (Teruel)
• CEIP Justicia de Aragón (Alcorisa)
• Santa María del Pilar School (Zaragoza)
• CEIP Pintor Pradilla (villanueva de Gállego)
• CEIP Kingdom of Aragon (La puebla de Alfindén)

each participating school chose its ‘little giant of reading’ from among its 4th-grade students through a vote by their 5th- and 6th-grade classmates. The selected student then chose a reading,no longer than three minutes,from a selection of children’s and youth literature provided by the Organizing Committee. these students then advanced to the autonomous final.

Initiatives such as this recover the habit of reading aloud and manage to make reading a party.

The students recited their chosen readings before a jury of professionals from the book, culture, and education sectors. The jury consisted of:

• Antón Castro,writer and journalist of Heraldo de Aragón
• marina Heredia,editor of ‘The Books of the Black Cat’
• Vicente Pallarés,journalist for Aragon Radio

The jury selected Claudia Ara from Santa María del Pilar de Zaragoza school as Aragon’s representative for the national final at the Madrid Book Fair on June 6.

Antón Castro praised Claudia Ara’s performance, stating, The winner made a very nuanced, very theatrical reading, assimilated the reading with good rhythm, ease, sense of humor and a lot of grace. He also noted, The eight did it splendid and was impressed by the high level of the competition.

The finalists from across Spain will now select a reading from a curated list of 20 works by Spanish authors of children’s and youth literature. These authors have pledged to visit the finalists’ schools, meet their classes, and offer reading advice.They will also accompany the students at the final event during the Book Fair.

pepe Trivez, professor and member of the expert committee, highlighted the excitement surrounding the event, stating, it is exciting to see the little ones read their fragments with their authors, wrapped up, accompanied by them, as excited as children.

Trivez also noted the enthusiasm among the teachers present, who expressed their delight in participating in a reading program aloud. He recalled the success of similar programs in Aragon in the past, emphasizing that Initiatives like this are today more crucial than ever…[they] make reading a party, creating a fun, exciting, and shared experience for students, families, and teachers.

‘The Little Giants of Reading’ was conceived by Magali guerrero, an aggregate of the Department of the book of the Embassy of France in Spain.The program, sponsored by renowned author and pedagogue Daniel Pennac, has been successfully promoted among schoolchildren in France.

Conclusion

The ‘Little Giants of Reading’ competition and the ‘xq you care’ program exemplify the commitment to fostering literacy and emotional well-being among students in Aragon. By engaging students in reading and providing support for their mental health, these initiatives contribute to a brighter future for the region’s youth.