The Municipal Library at the Padre Manuel Cultural Center wraps up its storytelling series to a full house

The family program organized by the City Council between February and June has introduced nearly 300 children ages 3 to 8 to the joy of reading through five free themed sessions

The Estepona City Council reports that the Municipal Library, located in the Padre Manuel Cultural Center, has concluded the storytelling series it has been hosting since last February.

This initiative is part of the ongoing program to promote reading held at the “Elvira Lindo” Children’s Room, which aims to introduce books and oral storytelling to young children from an early age, fostering a love of reading and shared family enjoyment.

Throughout the various sessions, the activity attracted an attendance of nearly 300 people, including children and accompanying adults—a figure that confirms the library’s status as a cultural gathering place for families in the municipality.

The series was aimed at families with children aged 3 to 8 and was structured around a different theme each month, so that storytelling served not only as a tool to promote reading but also as an educational resource for exploring emotions, values, and curiosity about the world around them. The storytelling sessions, with their distinctly participatory nature, were very well received by the audience at every event.

The activity was led by Vanesa López Morales, a teacher specializing in hearing and language, and kicked off in February with “Stories That Warm the Heart,” dedicated to emotional education and learning to identify and express feelings. In March, “Storytelling for Equality” focused on respect, diversity, and equality. Coinciding with World Book Day, April featured “Stories to Love Books,” a session designed to spark a love of reading and a connection to the library. In May, in the midst of spring, “Stories That Bloom” explored nature, growth, and curiosity about the world around us. The series concluded in June with “Let’s Go on a Journey to Experience a Thousand Adventures!”, a session filled with adventures and travel to spark the imagination of the little ones as summer approached, which drew a full house at the “Elvira Lindo” Children’s Room, putting the perfect finishing touch on a season that received an enthusiastic response.

Macarena Diánez, the councilor for the Department of Culture, spoke very highly of the initiative. “The high turnout for this series shows that families in Estepona see the library as a place for gathering, learning, and shared enjoyment.

Introducing children to reading from an early age, with care and creativity, is one of our priorities,” she noted.

She also thanked the storyteller in charge of the sessions for her work, as well as the participating families for their involvement, and expressed her commitment to continuing this type of reading promotion activity at the Municipal Library as part of the city’s cultural program aimed at children.

Through these initiatives, the Municipal Library is consolidating its role as a vibrant space for culture, intergenerational interaction, and civic engagement, offering activities tailored to different ages and interests.