World Book Day, Let’s Celebrate!

Oggi è un bel giorno per tutti coloro che come noi amano i libri. Il 23 Aprile si celebra infatti la Giornata mondiale del libro e del diritto d’autore, una festa voluta dall’UNESCO per promuovere la lettura, la pubblicazione dei libri e la protezione della proprietà intellettuale attraverso il copyright.

Per questa occasione abbiamo chiesto il libro preferito a 3 persone che coordinano i diversi aspetti che rendono così speciale il nostro programma Doppio Diploma:

Richard Collins, direttore del Programma Doppio Diploma Italia, Gina LaLicata, direttrice didattica della Mater Academy di Miami e Ralph Krauss, esperto in comunicazione e innovazione digitale per l’apprendimento, che avete incontrato in occasione dei nostri Let’s Get Inspired.

Tutti loro hanno scelto di condividere uno o più libri che ritengono importanti per la loro formazione e per la loro vita. Vi lasciamo alle loro raccomandazioni:

Richard Collins

Dear Students, Parents, Teachers, Principals and Mater Academy Doppio Diploma Community,

a few days ago Lisa Formenti, editor of our quarterly publication Mater Times, asked me to write a short piece regarding my favorite all time book.  As the world celebration of the book and the author’s copyright occurs April 23 I accepted Lisa’s challenge with enthusiasm.

We have all had fun playing games like which musical group we would take with us on a deserted island or which historical individuals we would invite to dinner given the opportunity.  In that spirit of fun and games I sat at my desk and pondered my favorite book. I am an avid reader, something I inherited from my father.

Life has been kind to me in affording a life style where books have always been a protagonist.  

How quickly this task was transformed into a tidal wave impossible to mitigate.

I have a vast book collection and have spent hours these days staring at my bookshelves.

The Fall by Camus jumped out at me, then Henry V by William (I like to fantasize I am on a first name basis with Shakespeare), The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera, Letters to a Young Contrarian by Hitchens, The Late Mattia Pascal by Pirandello and the list goes on unendingly.

I found myself waking up at 3am satisfied I came up with the answer. I would fall asleep again only to awake a few hours later not satisfied with my choice.  What is my point? I don’t have a favorite all time book or author.  Lisa will not be happy with that answer.

Dear Lisa, my response to the question “which is your favorite book” is this, “the next one”.  My favorite book today is the one which arrived to the house this morning. I cannot wait to start turning the pages.

Gina LaLicata

“One of my all-time favorite books is A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck.  I have read it more than 20 times, it moves me every time I read it, and I never get tired of it.

This book not only affected me as a student, but also in my early teaching career with adolescents.  The theme of the book is coming of ​age, and it is the story of how the young protagonist Robert Peck moves from childhood to adulthood.

The book personally taught me how to accept and react to life’s challenges and traumatic events, and how to move forward with acceptance and perseverance.  As a young teacher, it allowed me to share and discuss these values with my students and to guide them in how to handle the challenges that life presents us with.

Although this book may seem sad, it uplifts me, gives me strength, and encourages resiliency.  I highly recommend it!”

Ralph Krauss

“Walt Disney once said, “There is more treasure in books than all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”

This encompasses my view of the importance of books. In my life, I have come across many books, however one changed my life. Living a Life that Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream, by Ben Lesser. This book holds a very special place in my heart as it was written by a close personal friend of mine, Ben Lesser.

This book has an incredibly happy ending, whereas most books regarding the Holocaust do not. Ben reminds us throughout the book to appreciate what we have and live each day to the fullest.

His tale of persevering through unimaginable adversity during the Holocaust only to emigrate to America at 16, learn English on his own and worked hard to become an incredibly successful businessman along with raising a wonderful loving family.

His is a story of love, hope and happiness. I am fortunate enough to call Ben a close friend and a mentor, as well as have him participate in many Edutainment Learning events through the years! As my dear friend and favorite author Ben Lesser says, “Love always triumphs hate.”

Siamo molto grati a Richard, Gina e Ralph per aver condiviso con noi i libri che li hanno ispirati a diventare quelli che sono oggi e che li spronano a migliorare sempre. Ma quali sono i tuoi libri preferiti? Vuoi raccontarceli nei commenti? Noi ne abbiamo almeno un altro milione di cui ci piacerebbe parlarvi!