Local author and illustrator Ismael Muñoz has presented his first children's book titled 'Lía y las criaturas invisibles' during a special event at the Cultural Bus in Alcázar de San Juan. The presentation took place on 16 October, with the bus parked outside the local post office for the occasion.
Councillors Cristina Perea and Gonzalo Redondo attended the event, demonstrating the strong support of the Alcázar de San Juan Town Hall for local talent and cultural initiatives.
'Lía y las criaturas invisibles' is an illustrated adventure story aimed at readers aged 7 to 8, though it is accessible to all audiences. The book teaches emotional education through its narrative, which follows Lía, a girl with the special ability to see small invisible creatures representing human emotions such as fear, anger, and joy. Alongside her best friend Marcelo, Lía helps young readers identify, understand, and manage their feelings, fostering empathy towards others.
During the presentation, Muñoz shared the inspiration behind his self-published work, which stems from his relationship with his daughter and his artistic influences. He stated, 'It emerged from the books I read at night with my 10-year-old daughter, who loves to read. The book is a mix of a children's story and manga-style illustrations, inspired by my childhood reading of Dragon Ball comics.'
Although Muñoz considers illustration a hobby—having previously designed the poster for the Alcázar Carnival—his work has already made its way into classrooms. His cousin, Ana Belén Rincón, a teacher at a public school, explained, 'I am using it in my sessions as a teaching resource for language use, active listening, and emotional expression. Thanks to stories like this, we are advancing towards building empathetic individuals, which is something this world needs.'
The book is available on digital platforms and can also be purchased at local bookstores in Alcázar de San Juan, such as Mata and Argos.
Councillor for Culture Cristina Perea congratulated the author and contextualised the event within a special programme prepared by the Town Hall to celebrate International Day of Libraries, which is commemorated in October. She remarked, 'We have brought out the Cultural Bus to commemorate Library Day. Over the next two weeks, we will take this mobile library to different neighbourhoods in Alcázar to bring books and reading closer to all residents, accompanied by various activities.'
Seizing the opportunity, Perea announced the return of one of the most popular community initiatives to promote reading: 'We will repeat the biblioparadas initiative, placing books at urban bus stops so that anyone can take a copy, read it, return it at another stop, or leave a book they no longer use at home.'
