A book to read with the kids: today's recommendation from Fernanda Argüello, from Bianca Editions

Fernanda Argüello says that Bianca Ediciones publishes inclusive children's books . That word, "inclusive," says a lot about her, as a psychological consultant and therapeutic counselor, and her love of books: "I'm a compulsive book buyer; I have everything," she tells Clarín with amusement.

The truth is that the publishing house he founded and directs addresses " compromising topics such as cultural diversity, gender diversity, autism, ADHD, grief, bullying, emotional management, ESI, and grooming prevention," he explains.

And they truly think of those readers who don't have it easy: "Our books provide accessibility tools from different perspectives : we use Macrotipo, which makes reading easier for people with visual impairments, and Opendyslexic typography, which is friendly to people with dyslexia. We consider capital letters to accompany those who are just beginning to read, and we make books with adaptations for people with ASD, eliminating accessibility barriers to children's and young adult literature. We also have audio stories, video stories, and some of our books are available in the Tiflolibros library for the blind," she shares, putting together a long and loving list.

If she were a girl, Fernanda says she would go back to The Duck, Death, and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch . And at Clarín 's request, he reviews the role of books in his life and recommends two must-reads.

–If you were a kid now, what book would you never miss?

–One of the ones I'm most drawn to is The Duck, Death, and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch. And, of course, the ones from Bianca Ediciones! I love Nana , a book about a migrant girl who arrives from Africa to an Argentine school; Yes, Two Moms! by Pamela Visciarelli, in which two princesses fight dragons; A Dad in an Apron by Magela Demarco breaks the pragmatism of a typical family with a unique sense of humor; Lala's World by Constanza Cinello is a story of adoption.

–What do you remember from your childhood readings?

Some childhoods are shorter, and others last several years. In my case, reading always gave me that Peter Pan-esque space where I could enjoy childhood a little more. I read a lot, looking up to a mother who was a great reader. The story I remember with great affection is "One Plus One." I read it in The Book of Boys in Love by Elsa Borneman. It begins with the phrase, "At the age of five, I planted a name." I thought it was wonderful. I was also a fan of Lucky Luke and Billiken magazines. As an adult, and a writer, I saw my stories in the centerfolds of Billiken for years, and every time I saw them, I was as moved as I was when I was a little girl. Now, in a different role, it warms my heart to think about other childhood readings. On our team, for example, Alejandra Mirich, editorial coordinator, always says that the Robin Hood collection was everything in her childhood, and she read An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louise M. Alcott countless times. Our art director, Carla Paludetto, knows every Disney movie by heart, and when I say every one, I mean... Gianluca, the sales director, is a Potter fanatic, and Tatiana, the communications manager, has all of Pescetti's Natacha series. And Bianca, the one who lent us her name to create books, is now 13 years old and has read 100 books by Lina, the YouTuber.

–How does the publisher choose the books it will publish?

At Bianca Ediciones, we publish children's literature. Within this genre, we address compelling themes, such as stories that address cultural diversity, bullying, adoption, and grief; and we add different accessibility tools to each book. Within this framework, and knowing that we love to read, we receive manuscripts throughout the year, and we respond to each proposal with empathy and a person-centered approach, regardless of whether the book is published or not. We compile a reading report, and if the book is selected, we assemble a team to develop it, including designers, illustrators, proofreaders, and coordinators. "No one saves themselves alone," says El Eternauta ! "We love working as a team." Then, we send the files to the printer, and when Docuprint sends us the boxes, we do the unboxing. The most exciting part is organizing the presentation, where we all feel a bit like the book's mother. And, since we organize book fairs in schools, that's another joyous stage: bringing new releases to the entire country." Everything stems from the love we feel for those books that filled our childhoods with joy and imagination. In fact, we've shaped all of this into a workshop, and when we visit schools, we bring proofs and original illustrations so the children can gain direct exposure to the publishing world. We recently visited the Mekhitarista School, and in August we'll be at Santiago Apóstol. We also organize inclusive workshops for companies. Our mission is to speak, through literature, about under-discussed topics.

–Which title in the publisher's catalog has a special story you can tell us?

– Juan and Clara tells a love story. In the illustrations, you'll see a white cane, yes, but it's a story of discovery beyond the characters' characteristics. In My Best Friend Analía , the protagonist fulfills her dream without her wheelchair being a barrier. These are stories to open up spaces for conversation, to see other realities, to read as a family, and to make all childhoods equally beautiful, regardless of their differences.