On January 30th, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and Tuglas Society once again invite everyone to participate in the global Estonian literature read-along day. This time, we will be reading stories from estonian writer Kadri Hinrikus’s book ‘Dachshund and Dane,’ specifically the tales ‘Scents’ and ‘Hike.’
“On this day, Estonians all over the world read the same Estonian children’s book to appreciate knowledge of Estonian literature and language skills. This allows Estonian children living abroad to become acquainted with the same stories and characters that belong to the lives of children in Estonia. Reading children’s literature together connects families and generations, uniting Estonians worldwide,” said Järvi Lipasti, the training and integration manager of the Tuglas Society.
The tradition of celebrating the Read-along Day began four years ago with the Tuglas Society’s idea to read chapters from a beloved children’s book by a popular author to mark Estonian Literature Day. In 2021, chapters from Aino Pervik’s ‘Old Mother Kunks’ were read, in 2022, from Eno Raud’s ‘Three Jolly Fellows,’ and last year, from Andrus Kivirähk’s ‘Sirli, Siim and the Secrets.’ This year, selected stories from Kadri Hinrikus’s ‘Dachund and Dane’ can be read not only in Estonian but also in Finnish, English, Latvian, Russian, and Hungarian. The texts can be found on the Children’s Literature Centre’s website.
On the Read-along Day’s Facebook event, participants can mark themselves as attendees and share their impressions of the book through posts, drawings, or photos using the hashtag #loemekoos2024. The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre will draw prizes among the most active participants.
January 30th, known as Estonian Literature Day and A. H. Tammsaare’s birthday, has been a national holiday and flag day since 2023. Its aim is to value the foundational texts of literature, draw attention to contemporary literature, and highlight the role of writers in Estonian culture and society. In addition to the read-along, various events dedicated to the day will take place, and more information can be found on the Ministry of Culture’s website.
Read more about the Read-along Day here and participate in the event through the Facebook event.
