Quito, Nov 11 (EFE) .- Fairies, goblins and other fantasy characters stroll through the Book Fair of the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, which in its tenth edition, has dedicated the most small a large space with labyrinths of words, riddles, a story marathon and workshops to bring them closer to reading.

The Queen of Hearts from the book Alice in the Country of wonders, princesses and princes also toured the fair that was inaugurated last night and in which today the children lacked eyes and hands to see and read all the books that had their reach.

"Forbidden not to touch", read a large sign at the bottom of which mothers read the smallest while other children listened attentively to the reading of one of their close colleagues, Meanwhile, with only a year and a half, a girl, sitting on a tiny chair, turned the pages of a book and emulated reading like her neighbors.

Only one tongue twister, anyone, opened the door to the labyrinth of the words: "Parsley I ate, parsley I ate, from so much eating parsley I got sick" ... and the game was already beginning.

Looking at herself in a mirror, six-year-old Bethlehem he repeated: "mirror, mirror, tell me the truth, what do you think of me?" special pair ti. "

With its own star and an immense smile, Bethlehem advanced to the next game in which the little ones wrote their highest quality in roles that were then exhibited in the walls.

Supported by students of education of the Central University, Bethlehem advanced to the next stage in which the children exercised writing to answer questions such as "What is sadness ?, to which a small replied:" Unable to read "and hit it on the wall.

Under What is a brother? It appeared" A person who despite making you die you love your life. "

The incentive to the imagination arrived at the next stop in the labyrinth where they had to name four monsters, according to Efe Alicia Ovalle, member de Girarndula, Ecuadorian association of children and youth books.

Games to encourage memory and concentration were intertwined in the halls of the Fair where they also develops a marathon, in which writers, as well as members of the "libriPilibri" group, which brings together university teachers and reading promoters dressed in fun outfits, have stories before an audience for a hundred people for ten uninterrupted hours.

Expression of Girarndula, the writer Juana Neira, told Efe that it is important that children read to then have citizens "sensitive, critical, supportive and empathetic."

Considers that the "invasion" of audiovisual and electronic games "disconnects" children in their relationship with the world, it generates many lonelinesses and children with anxiety.

"Children who have access to books have a different thought and creativity than others who have become a bit in the sheep of what they want to sell, "he said, adding that the books also generate emotional bonds between parents and children.

At the Fair, which will run until 19 November at the Bicentennial Events Center, in which the Argentine-Canadian Alberto Manguel is the guest of honor and in which 61 national and international writers will participate, there will be 250 activities.

In its 5,000 square meters, the Center houses 73 exhibitors, including representatives of the province of Manabí - one of the most affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake of April 2016- which also offer its gastronomy.

According to Edgar Allan García, director of the National Reading Plan "José de la Cuadra" del Ministry of Culture and Heritage, there is no "clear numbers" in the level of reading in Ecuador, which does not only involve the traditional book but also what circulates in social networks and in subtitles of movies and television series, said.

Only books have "the ability to immerse" people in their poetic universe, he told Efe while remembering that in the meeting also highlights the literature written by women in the region.

With reading should start from small, according to Garcia, who said that reading "apparently returns to the smarter people ", increases the vocabulary, learns to spin sentences and ideas, allows to elaborate different realities in the head, psychology, history is learned ...

In addition," the Reading cures boredom, "reads one of the posters of the fair, where hundreds of children embrace literature in a playful way and where thousands of" books that seek owner. "