UC

Beloved Children’s Book “Library Mouse” Re-Released After Decades, Author Champions Family Role in Fostering Reading

Santiago, Chile – A cherished classic of Chilean children’s literature, Cecilia Beuchat‘s “Library Mouse,” is back in print after a period of scarcity, responding to overwhelming demand from readers who fondly remember the story from their own childhoods. The re-release comes as Beuchat, a national and academic author, emphasizes the crucial role of families alongside teachers and libraries in cultivating a lifelong love of reading in children.

Beuchat’s work consistently aims to entertain and engage young readers, with a strong emphasis on humor. “Through my work,I want readers to find entertaining books,that they laugh,since several have a lot of humor,” she explains. However, she stresses that access to books is only part of the equation.

“It seems very vital to me, hopefully, the children work with the family,” Beuchat asserts. She draws on her own upbringing, noting her father, despite limited formal education, instilled in her a deep thankfulness for literature. “My father did not reach schooling for economic reasons; though, I knew more about literature than me, that I studied at the University. He enjoyed the books and we, his children, inherit that taste too.”

Beuchat believes active engagement with reading, particularly within the family, is key to comprehension. “Children can have very good books, but if they do not understand what they read, there is not much that can be done,” she says, acknowledging the challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.She advocates for equipping children with the tools to become critical readers, encouraging them to analyze and form their own opinions.

This emphasis on critical thinking extends to her hopes for how readers interact with her books. Beuchat welcomes – and even values – negative feedback. “I am not scared to get a book and tell me: I did not like it; that means that child is able to comment,” she states. She actively seeks dialog with young readers during school visits, viewing their honest reactions as invaluable.

“Library Mouse,” first published in 1983, addresses a gap in available reading material for children at the time, offering a story designed to develop reading comprehension. The story centers around a mouse who initially resists sharing his book collection with visiting children,but ultimately learns the joy of sharing the magic of reading. The book gained a devoted following, but became difficult to find in recent years, prompting a surge of requests from adults eager to introduce it to a new generation.

“Many emails began to arrive and whatsapp asking me about him, of people who told me: I read the book when I was a boy and now I want my children to read it,” Beuchat explains, detailing the impetus for the re-issue. She believes the book’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to inspire a love of reading and to portray the library as a place of wonder. “It is indeed a book that motivates to read… the idea that one can also become a library mouse.”