The Mozambican writer Mia Couto has returned to the world of children's literature with the launch of his latest book, As Sementes do Céu, presented on Saturday, 13 December, at the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation in Maputo.
In this work, illustrated by the artist Susa Monteiro, Mia Couto explores the delicate relationship between human beings and nature, while also evoking the importance of childhood and the value of dialogue between generations. It is a sensitive and poetic story about a grandfather and his grandson, who share their grief over the deforestation that has ravaged the once-green landscape where they lived.
As Sementes do Céu takes a reflective look at what springs from the earth — not only plants, but also dreams, memories and hopes — and at the urgency of rebuilding a world that respects the natural balance and the emotional heritage of elders.
In a note released by the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation, there is an excerpt that reveals the spirit of the book:
«One day, the grandfather peered out of the window and gazed at the mountains. He took a step back, with his hands on his chest, as if short of breath. He pointed to the top of the hills, where an immense forest used to stand. Now there was only sand and stone. They had cut down all the trees.»
The launch of the book was accompanied by a staged reading, performed by the actors Fernando Macamo and Nélia Gilberto. The author then spoke, and the event closed with a book-signing session, in an atmosphere that celebrated the word, illustration and literary sensibility.
