Another book of Morales in Papiamento
PHILIPSBURG – The Aruban department of Education wants to translate Loekie Morales’ book ‘The Magic Wedding Cake’ into Papiamento, the Aruban native language, and donate the books to all Aruban schools for reading purposes.
In 2012 the book with the magical story was published in four languages by Beyond Writing Foundation in two bilingual versions, English-Spanish as ‘The Magic Wedding Cake‘/’La Mágica Tarta Nupcial’ – and Dutch-Papiamentu as ‘De Magische Bruidstaart’/’E Bolo di Batrei Mágiko’.
Back then, the book was mainly subsidized by AMFO and the Prins Bernhard Cultural Fund and was donated by the Beyond Writing Foundation to all primary schools on Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius for comprehensive reading.
The story is about a little girl going in a time machine in that magical building. While there, she could witnesses several events from the past, since the discovering of her island. The book was an ode to all the monuments in the world, especially to ‘the Wedding Cake’, the famous monument (former National Archive building) that is located at the Scharlooweg in Willemstad Curaçao. The story was dedicated to everyone who loves monuments, and had great appreciation for history, art and culture.
The Aruban Department of Education will translate and publish the Papiamento version of the book, and for the upcoming years, all students of Aruban schools will get Loekie Morales’ spiritual child to read.
“It is a great honor for me, to have my book translated in Papiamento and being read by so many more children within the Dutch Caribbean,’” the author said in a press statement.
The department wants to publish the same beautiful illustrations of Tess Verheij with the story. In the meantime Morales and Verheij have given their okay to the department to publish the Papiamento version.
Morales: “This is another milestone in my literature career and I am encouraged to keep on writing beautiful stories, that our Caribbean children can relate to.”
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Photo caption: Outmost left: Tess Verheij (illustrator) and Loekie Morales (right) cutting the Magical Wedding Cake in the Philipsburg Jubilee Library, during the book launch in 2012.
