Cifelli skipped the Children's Book Fair, angered by María Teresa Andruetto's speech.

“ Reading is also imagining . And imagining is an act of resistance against the machinery of power,” said Argentine writer María Teresa Andruetto , one of the leading figures in children's and young adult literature in the Hispanic world, during her moving speech at the inauguration of the 33rd Children's and Young Adult Book Fair , which will run until July 28 with free admission , more than 180 activities and the participation of 76 exhibitors at the Palacio Libertad (formerly the Kirchner Cultural Center). At the same time, the Secretary of Culture of the Nation, Leonardo Cifelli , snubbed those present, apologizing for participating in disagreement with Andruetto's ideas: “She uses that space for her ideological positions ,” he asserted through his spokespersons.

The opening ceremony was led by Christian Rainone, president of the El Libro Foundation, and Gabriela Pérez, president of the fair's Organizing Committee. Both emphasized the need to introduce books to children from early childhood, to renew the reading experience at fairs through fun and immersive offerings, and to work to ensure that "no child or young person leaves without a book in their hand."

Pérez thanked the Foundation team and the institutions they support each year—such as ABGRA, ADA, and ALIJA—and paid a heartfelt tribute to Marita Ventieri, a long-time member of the Commission who recently passed away.

One of the most celebrated moments was the official presentation of Lina, Lolo, and Lili, characters created by 23-year-old illustrator Nehuén Costa , from San Juan. “A few months ago, I was showing my drawings to editors for the first time. Today, my characters are everywhere at the fair. More than a window, a giant mural has opened for me,” he said, moved.

No one replaced Cifelli, who is, in addition to being the host, the highest authority in the country. The official decided not to participate in the inauguration "because, as we have said time and again, politics has no place in culture. I will not support the show of a person who uses that space for his ideological positions ," despite the fact that his own speeches often openly express his ideological positions without any hesitation.

The event concluded with the firm and committed voice of María Teresa Andruetto, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Prize and one of the leading figures in children's and young adult literature in the Spanish-speaking world . Her speech intertwined literature, history, memory, and contemporary reality with a force that moved the audience.

Andruetto isn't captivated by the world of fiction, although she's an expert and sees reality, denouncing it with her best tool: words. In previous speeches, she was preceded by Canela, and last year by Pablo Bernasconi. Today was her turn, and she was especially moved because it marks the 30th anniversary of the AMIA bombing.

That's why the writer chose to begin with a minute of silence , not only for the victims of that attack , but also for "the 25,000 Gazan children killed by bombs, hunger, and thirst." Quoting Silvia Bleichmar, she recalled that "many lives are silenced by the volume of privileges."

"Children's literature cannot today look away from Gaza," he warned, recalling that international pillars of children's literature—such as the Hans Christian Andersen Prize and the Bologna International Fair—were born after the genocide of the Jewish people with the aim of promoting peace through books.

With a poetic and profound tone, he quoted authors such as Brecht, Pasolini, Todorov, and George Didi-Huberman, evoking fireflies as symbols of resistance in dark times : “Fireflies are focal points of social and aesthetic resistance. Signals in the middle of the night, flashes of light in times when cruelty is acted out and displayed with total obscenity.”

And he added: “ Literary education resists the desire for domestication . It opens doors to possible worlds. Because those who obey cannot ask questions. And reading is also that: asking questions.”

The writer also vindicated the role of teachers, mediators, and artists as “bridges between books and readers,” and concluded with a reflection that runs throughout her thinking: “With books, we can establish conversations between those of us who are alive and those who are dead. Between those of us who think in one language and those who think in another. Between those of us who are from here and those who are from other places or other times. Because reading makes us think. Because reading is also imagining. And imagining is an act of resistance against the machinery of power. Resistance. That's what people sometimes do, in the most unexpected ways, so that the unthinkable can happen, so that we can hear something more than what we already know.”

The event was attended by Pablo Silva, director of the Libertad Palace; the director of the National Library, Susana Soto; writers and editors Canela, Laura Leibiker, Juan Manuel Pampin, María Amelia Macedo, Ezequiel Martínez, Ana Maria Cabanellas, Susana Itzcovich, and Mario Mendez; and illustrators Ana Luisa Stok and Isol.

In addition to the wide cultural offering, this edition includes Professional Conferences, Conferences for Teachers and Reading Mediators (with the series "The Great Journey"), visits to more than 160 schools, and the presentation of the Pregonero Awards , which recognize reading promoters from across the country.

With a federal perspective , offerings for all audiences, and an approach that combines celebration, reflection, and commitment, the 33rd Children's and Young Adult Book Fair also aims to be a key space for developing free, critical, and sensitive readers.