Manuel Vilas, Ben Clark, a Bookface contest and the creation of a network of ‘Libros Libres’ spaces will be the protagonists of the Book Day activities.

The Consistory has organized a wide-ranging program for all ages to promote reading.

The Estepona Town Hall has organized a program of cultural activities to celebrate International Book Day with an extensive program of activities that will include the presence of renowned figures such as Manuel Vilas, finalist of the Planeta Prize, or the poet and publisher, Ben Clark. In addition, the IV edition of the Bookface contest will be held, activities for children and, as a pioneering initiative in the municipality, a network of ‘Libros Libres’ spaces will be created in which citizens can exchange books for free.

The activities on the 23rd will begin at 12:00 noon, at the Town Hall, with the awards ceremony for the winners of the ‘IV Bookface Contest’, which rewards the art of melting with the cover of a book. The jury will select the three best photographs, based on criteria such as creativity, technique and originality, which will be awarded 150, 100 and 50 euros, respectively.

As a novelty in the municipality, the City Council will create a network of spaces ‘Free Books’ scattered throughout the city. In these spaces, which will have a wooden house design, donated books will be deposited so that readers who wish to do so can manage the exchange of books and promote reading under the concept ‘take it, read it and share it’. In these spaces, which will remain active throughout the year, citizens can also leave books they want to donate.

The points chosen in the city center to install these spaces of ‘Libros Libres’, are the Plaza de Las Flores, the Botanical Park Orquidario, the Paseo Marítimo, with two different points, the Parque de Las Mesas and the Central Park, while in the suburbs will be located in Cancelada, Isdabe, Nueva Atalaya and the Children’s Park of Arroyo Enmedio.

On the other hand, at 17:30 hours will take place in the Children’s Room ‘Elvira Lindo’ of the Municipal Library, the dramatized Storytelling ‘The Book of Stories’. The company La Gatika Producciones will review the great Disney stories through games, music, dance and riddles. The first 50 children to attend will be given a story.

The program of events will continue at 18:00 hours at the Library of Contemporary Cultures, with the Reading Club: ‘The best book in the world’, by Manuel Vilas, and at 20:00 hours will be given the Literary Workshop: ‘How to read and write poems’, by the poet and editor Ben Clark, with free attendance, prior registration at bcc@estepona.es

On April 24 the writer, Manuel Vilas, finalist for the Planeta Prize and winner of the Nadal Prize in 2023, will present his book ‘The best book in the world’. It will be held at the Library of Contemporary Cultures at 8:00 pm.

International Book Day is a worldwide commemoration celebrated every April 23, promoted by UNESCO since 1988, with the aim of promoting reading, the publishing industry and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.