A book to read with the kids: today's recommendation is from María José Pingray, from Guadalquivir.
María José Pingray's journey to books began with graphic design. Trained in that discipline, she later specialized in editorial production management and joined Guadal Publishing, where she has worked for almost 20 years. For the past seven years, she has held the position of editorial director: "Surrounded by editors, I ended up becoming an editor by profession and passion ," she explains.
Guadal / El gato de hojalata is one of the leading publishers in children's literature, publishing an average of 20 new titles per month and 240 per year . "My approach is based on excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration," says Pingray. But if she thinks of herself as a child again, she has one certainty: "I wouldn't miss the Incredible Classics and Pop-Up Nature collections for anything, because they have pop-ups that are truly surprising."
And at Clarín 's request, he reviews the role of books in his life and recommends two must-reads.
–If you were a kid now, what book would you never miss?
–If I were a kid today, I wouldn't miss our Incredible Classics and Pop-Up Nature collections for anything; they have spectacular pop-ups that truly surprise you. I would also choose 365 Questions and Curiosities for Children because it explains a ton of topics in a simple way and with great illustrations. I would love for my mom to buy me Crezco que te crezco , a new collection that accompanies the challenges of growing up and the world of emotions in a fresh and fun way. And, without a doubt, I would love to be given books with sounds, textures, stuffed animals, puzzles, or any book that has a play accessory.
María José Pingray is the editorial director of Guadal / The Tin Cat. Photo courtesy of the publisher.
–What do you remember from your childhood readings?
When I was a girl, I was in San Pedro, and at that time, not many books were delivered, but vendors would go to schools with collections, and my mom bought some for us. One that left its mark on me: Stories to Keep Telling. There I discovered Beatriz Ferro and María Elena Walsh, and one of my favorite stories was "A Cat Like No Other," by Fryda Schultz de Mantovani. I read Mafalda and Choose Your Own Adventure , and we had a series of illustrated dictionaries that I loved. There was a library at school, and I remember going there often. There I found My Orange-Lime Tree, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Women , and other classics. In my teens, I began to take more interest in comics, and I eagerly awaited my mom to get me every new Jem title that came out. Without a doubt, I would read all of those books again today, because they're part of who I am. When you're a kid or a teenager, you're very authentic; you define your personality based on what you enjoy, believe, and feel represents you.
–How does the publisher choose the books it will publish?
The books we choose are born from understanding our readers, listening to them, and observing them. We want to reach children and teenagers with offerings that truly engage and resonate with them. We want them to discover the pleasure of reading based on what interests them, so they become readers by choice. Ideas usually come from the publisher. We pay close attention to trends and are fortunate enough to travel to international fairs, which inspire us immensely. Then, we find the ideal author and illustrator, and we choose the team with people who will fall in love with the idea in mind. And that's where a long, up-and-down journey of all kinds begins, involving editors, designers, proofreaders, and production. It's a job that requires a lot of dedication, commitment, but above all, passion—a job we love.
In the end, every book is a story, and each reader builds their own story, their own identity, with that book.
–Which title in the publisher's catalog has a special history?
–Each book has its own story. Some are emotional, like A Version of God by Liliana Bodoc and Ana Luisa Stok, which began when Liliana was still with us, and which we picked up after her passing with her son Galo and Ana Luisa, adding details like her handwriting to the design, with a huge emotional charge. It's a book that Alija singled out, and later won the Readers' Choice Award for "Best Young Adult Short Story," a completely genuine award, the recognition of the kids. Other times, the journey is fun from beginning to end, full of laughter and anecdotes, as is the case with interactive books, which we thoroughly enjoy making. There are also picture books, which are interesting and make us reflect, sparking debates, opinions, and new ideas. In the end, each book is a story, and each reader builds their own story, their own identity, with that book. Because what matters, above all, is the connection and identification that children and families achieve with what they read.
Clarin
