Press Release | Azizi, the precious gift tells a story of interracial adoption
Children's book signed by Lucimar Rosa Dias, new release of Arole Cultural addresses the love of a family that unites different races
Azizi, the precious gift, written by Lucimar Rosa Dias and illustrated by Ana Luiza Maisonnave, is a story of affection and acceptance inspired by real cases of interracial adoption. A black boy is adopted by a white couple and in the difference of races consolidate theyr love and the complicity since the "birth" of the little boy in the life of its mother and its father.
The affective bonds are strengthened precisely in the distinct origin between the parents and the child. With emotion and enthusiasm, Azizi repeatedly asks to hear the story of his arrival. "The precious gift" so awaited is the confirmation that notions of family go far beyond blood ties: Azizi is adopted, but also adopts his parents who, together, find in the delicacies of life the meaning of love.
The new Arole Cultural book marks the debut of the Bejiró label, which from now on will sign Arole´s children titles. The book's proposal came in December/2018, during the release of “Knowing the Orishas”, the first children's title of Arole Cultural, when the author met publisher Diego de Oxóssi. "There are urgent and sensitive issues, such as adoption, that need to be dealt with by small readers and we [Arole´s team] were looking to publish such a book. When I met the proposal through Lucimar, it became even stronger and soon we accepted the challenge, which became the seed of the Bejiró label", says the editor and director of Arole Cultural.
The official release of "Azizi, the precious gift" takes place during the International Biennial of the Book of Rio de Janeiro. On Wednesday, September 4, Lucimar Rosa Dias participates in the panel "How the speed of the XXI century crosses and modifies the relationship between parents and children, parents and educators", along with Fernanda Rodrigues and Tania Zagury. From there, the author goes to the publisher's booth at the event, for an autograph session and storytelling for the small readers.
Azizi, the precious gift
48 pages, paperback
Cover price: R$35,00 | ISBN 9786580637010
Available at: www.arolecultural.com.br/shop/azizi
About the author
Lucimar Rosa Dias is a professor at the Federal University of Paraná, postgraduate in Education, Diversity, Difference and Social Inequalities. She also holds a PhD from USP and a master's degree from UFMS with a degree in Pedagogy. Coordinator of the Nucleus of Afro-Brazilian Studies of UFPR, deputy coordinator of GT 21 - Education and Ethnic-Racial Relations of ANPEd, leader of ErêYá - Group of Studies, Research and Education in Ethnic-Racial Relations Education (ERER) and chief of the Racial Equality Promotion Unit of SIPAD - Superintendence of Equality and Inclusion of UFPR. For the last years, her focus have been ERER and teacher training with emphasis on early childhood education, child work methodologies on ethnic-racial diversity, and studies on black women and education. In addition to several published articles on the subject, Lucimar is also the author and coordinator of the "Other Stories Collection - Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Cultures" and children's books "Each with its own way!" and "Azizi, the precious gift".
About Arole Cultural
The publishing house was founded in 2015 by Diego do Oxóssi, aiming to translate the culture of the Orishas in an objective and easy way for the lay reader or for anyone who already has an interest in the subject "Arole means `the heir` in Yoruba language - one who carries a tradition. This is the mission and the main goal of our titles and brand: help spread African religions, breaking down taboos and stigmata, demystifying and deconstructing prejudices and showing that we are all equal in our differences", explains the founder and writer.