CAMAGÜEY.— Mágicos Caprichos is one of the latest titles published by Ediciones Loynaz and will be presented at the Book Fair, scheduled to bring the summer season to a close in the city of Camagüey.

 Its author, Camagüey-born poet Jesús Zamora, surprises us with this beautiful collection of poems for children. By his own admission, he holds such deep respect for young readers that he never thought himself capable of writing for them. Yet he has now entered the landscape of Cuban children's literature with a work designed to connect children on the island with the poetic tradition of the Spanish language.

 This is far more than a simple book of poems; it is a true celebration of poetic forms. Zamora displays his craftsmanship with remarkable ease, working with the romance, ovillejo, décima, sonetillo, and other traditional forms. Across its three sections, birds, witches, animals, and other fantastical creatures take center stage, while love, friendship, and imagination weave their way through the poems.

 Mágicos Caprichos*, published in 2025 by the Pinar del Río-based publishing house, received an honorable mention in the 2024 Hermanos Loynaz Literary Competition, organized by the province.

 The book was edited by José Manuel Pérez Cordero, with design by Iliá Valdés Hernández and illustrations by Mayrelis Ruíz Torres, an artist who has already demonstrated a keen sensitivity for children's literature and is also recognized as a writer in competitions such as the Paco Mir Contest. Her illustrations provide a colorful path into Zamora's world, helping bring the Mágicos Caprichos to life.

 I leave you with this poem, which has a remarkable power to capture the hearts of young readers.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez