June 1 at Cotroceni Palace: A Day When Reading Came to Life

On June 1, the Small Library at Cotroceni Palace was filled with energy, curiosity and the joy of discovering stories together. More than 130 children and teenagers took part in the “Play Changes the World” event, organized by the Presidential Administration of Romania.

For a few hours, the library became a space for stories, dialogue and discovery. The younger participants embarked on “Apolodor’s Journeys” together with author Florin Bican, brought characters to life with Adriana Ștefan, and discovered the Romanian Constitution explained in a way that was easy for them to understand, together with Alina Dumitrașcu.

Stories also crossed the boundaries of languages and cultures. “Alone at the Shops” was read in both Romanian and Japanese, while during the “Rescue Mission at the North Pole!” workshop, led by Andreea Iatagan, children discovered how much we can achieve when we work together.

Teenagers also had a space dedicated to reading. During the “Plot Twist: Childhood Doesn’t End — It Gets Rewritten!” workshop, led by teacher Carmen Ion, they explored the ways in which stories accompany and transform us, regardless of our age.

A special moment of the day was the reading session led by Mirabela Grădinaru, who read the story “Constantin Brâncuși – The Sculptor in Love with Flight” to the children, turning reading into a warm and memorable experience.

For the Bosch Romania Foundation, events like this are a natural continuation of our efforts to bring reading and education closer to children and teenagers. We were happy to be part of this special day alongside our partners: Curtea Veche Publishing, Humanitas Junior, Editura Trei, Editura Arthur, Editura Portocala Albastră, Boovie and A fost odată.

We would like to thank everyone who made this day possible, and especially the children who filled the library with questions, laughter and stories.

If we were to choose one symbol for this day, it would undoubtedly be the book – a gift that never ends.

Together, we can change the world. One story, one book and one child at a time.