Book Santa again this year

An article by my follower, Hosshi-san

The whole family, including the children, participated in Book Santa. Reading such a heartwarming article made my day feel good (^^)

I reread it again this morning, and it still makes me feel good today ♪

Hosshi-san jokes at the end that it turned into a serious article.
Even with those words, it doesn't cancel out how overflowing with kindness it is.

I wonder what kind of children will receive the books chosen by Hosshi-san's children.
If I could, I would love to dress up as Santa and deliver them myself.

After reading this article, I thought I would try writing about Book Santa myself.

I remember that when I was young, I lived by being helped by books. There was a library in the children's center in my neighborhood. I didn't go to elementary school, and I feel like I read every book I could get my hands on there.
My friends were books.

And then I became an adult.
My reading volume has decreased significantly compared to when I was young. The only book I bought and read at a bookstore this year was "Naruse wa Tenka wo Tori ni Iku" (Naruse Takes Over the World). Naruse is a little like my middle sister. She isn't as much of a genius as Naruse, but her tone and the way she calmly does strange things are similar.

Since I passed 40, my desire to be useful to the world has become stronger.
With the declining birthrate and aging population, I have also come to think that children are treasures. I am in my mid-40s, single, and have no children. I was thinking about what I could do, having not been able to bear such treasures.

It was then that I noticed a poster at a bookstore and learned about Book Santa.

Last year, I donated two books. Just as books were my friends back then, I included the wish that if there are children today who feel the same way... I hope they reach them...

And yet... I forgot what I donated... ((((；ﾟДﾟ)))))))
One was the picture book "Ikiru" (To Live) by Shuntaro Tanikawa. I can't remember the other one at all. I think it was a science or social studies book for middle or high school students... even with my brain working at full capacity, I can't remember.

So, I decided to leave it here as a memorandum.

This year, I chose these two books.

Swimmy
I learned as an adult that this was translated by Shuntaro Tanikawa, but it was the story I loved most when I was young.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf
This is a book that was recommended for my book report when I was in second grade. I was an elementary student who often skipped school, but I submitted the report, and for some reason, I won a prize in the book report contest. I was told to come to school for the awards ceremony at the morning assembly, and I hated it so much that I actually got a fever three days before, so it is truly a "The Fall of Freddie the Leafbook" for me. The content is gentle and makes you shed a tear, so I chose it hoping that children today will read it.

And then, after hearing the news of Shuntaro Tanikawa's passing last month, I decided to head to the bookstore again.

I hesitated, but I chose this one.

Makoto Wada has also passed away, and as a book I want to leave for future generations...

I hope someone will smile because of this (^^)

Little by little, starting with small things
as Master Kiyoshi Nishikawa also says.

I plan to participate again next year.