Children have always been a big part of my life. For many years, I worked in pediatric medicine, caring for children and learning to see the world a little through their eyes.
   And there were always books. They’ve been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I read constantly, absorbing ideas about kindness, friendship, love, loyalty, and honor like a sponge. When my daughter came along, reading together became part of our daily routine. Now she’s almost a teenager, and we have our own little rule: books always come first.
   Maybe that’s why it makes me so sad to see books slowly losing their place in so many children’s lives. Screens are easier, faster, always ready to entertain — and a book doesn’t always get the chance to show a child what is hiding inside it.
That always brings me back to an old family story. When my uncle was a little boy, my grandmother would read him the beginning of an exciting story. Then, right at the most interesting part, she would close the book and say, “If you want to know what happens next, read it yourself!” And of course, my uncle did. Sometimes he even kept reading at night, under the covers. He grew up to be the most avid reader I’ve ever met!
   I love this story. Sometimes that is all a child needs — a little reason to turn the page; not to read because they have to, but because they want to know what happens next. And that thought became the heart of this project. Today, together with a small team, I’m bringing that idea to life — creating letters meant to awaken that little spark. If these letters can make a child curious enough to keep reading — and perhaps, one day, truly fall in love with books — I’ll be incredibly happy!