With a heavy heart, the decision had to be made to cancel LeseEule, the popular children's and young adult book show that has been running for 60 years. But there is also good news: Even without the exhibition in the Römerhallen there are many great offers for children and families - this year just digitally! Because culture is a necessity for people, for children as well as for adults, especially in such difficult times - and children are particularly affected by the restrictions that have dominated our lives for many months now.
That's why the 2020 LeseEule is simply flying to families and children digitally: On the http://www.kinderkultur-frankfurt.de page, parents can download the Reading Owl book list with 800 recommendations, sorted by age group. There are lots of great ideas for Christmas there too! There is also a solution for the handicraft activity, which usually takes place in the Römerhallen between the bookshelves: since Wednesday, 11 November, families can pick up a bag with materials and instructions at the gate of the Youth and Social Welfare Office, Eschersheimer Landstraße 241-249, between 8 am and 3 pm. 500 paper bags will be available for handicrafts on the theme of owls. The craft ideas are suitable for children aged five to ten. One bag per family will be given out - while supplies last.
Youth and Social Affairs Director Daniela Birkenfeld, who visited the book exhibition in the Römer every year as a child herself, says: "Especially during the ‚part-lockdown', when there is less going on than usual for children and young people, it is good to get some inspiration to read. I'm delighted that the ‚Reading Owl' has now gone digital." The social department contributes around 60,000 euros, four-fifths of the budget of the "Reading Owl". Co-organisers are the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, the Frankfurt City Library and the City Education Department. The patron of the "Reading Owl" has been Bettina von Bethmann since 2006. She says: "The ‚Reading Owl' project is a paean to reading. It entices little personalities to make books their friends, opening up new worlds for them."
The "Reading Owl" means a lot to Birkenfeld herself, "After visiting the ‚Reading Owl' with my mom, I wrote my wish list to the Christ Child. Then, to my great delight, the books I had chosen were indeed under the Christmas tree. But even better, I later realized that parents, grandparents and friends also gave me books from the ‚Reading Owl' exhibit, so my wishes all came true."
Online readings as part of the "Reading Owl" exhibit will take place through Friday, November 20. Since Wednesday, November 11, a QR code has been available on the http://www.kinderkultur-frankfurt.de page. This takes you to a quiz you can play on your phone. In addition, 14 Frankfurt schoolchildren each pantomime one of the books; the video clips of the pantomimes can also be found on the website. Anyone who guesses the right answer from three can send in the solution by Wednesday, 30 December, by e-mail to leseeule@stadt-frankfurt.de. The prizes are - of course - books, an Eintracht backpack and tickets to the Opel Zoo.
