Galaxy of Books: A festival for stories, languages, and wonder
When the doors to a very special universe open in Bremen, the Galaxy of Books begins. The literature festival invites families, children, and anyone who loves stories on a journey that focuses on imagination and language. On November 15 and 16, 2025, the reading festival took place in the city library and the Kukoon cultural center. Admission was free at all venues.
Readings, workshops, creative activities, and encounters with authors make the festival a lively experience that introduces young people to children's literature in a playful way. In this way, the Galaxy of Books creates both an inspiring space and low-threshold access to literature.
A festival celebrating diversity and linguistic worlds
One of the festival's main focuses is multilingualism. Here, language is not seen as a barrier, but as a bridge and an opportunity to appreciate one's own heritage while discovering new things. Many families in Bremen grow up multilingually, and the festival offers them a space to find themselves in stories that reflect their own realities. Children learn that multilingualism is a strength that creates connections and opens up new perspectives. The reading festival helps to highlight multilingualism as a valuable part of a diverse society.
An encouraging bilingual reading.
As part of the reading festival, Kashi Grobe, who grew up in Jamaica, studied in Los Angeles, and now lives in Berlin, presented her picture book “Weil du bist, wie du bist” (Because You Are Who You Are). A picture book that delights children aged three and up with its clarity and brings them closer to intercultural perspectives.
The reading tells the story of Emma, a girl who does something every child is familiar with: she loves a piece of clothing so much that she wants to wear it everywhere. In this case, it is a bright yellow rain cape that gives Emma a feeling of security and strength. Although the rain has stopped, Emma refuses to take off her beloved cape. Despite skeptical looks and comments from those around her, Emma refuses to be dissuaded from continuing to wear her rain cape. When the rain suddenly returns, Emma is prepared with her rain cape and dances joyfully through the raindrops. In the end, everyone else is wearing a rain cape too – but none of them shine as brightly as Emma's.
During the reading, the children responded enthusiastically to the lively way in which Kashi Grobe presented her story. Little hands kept shooting up to ask questions or share their own experiences, such as their favorite clothes that they would love to wear every day. The book's illustrations, which use bold colors and lines to visualize Emma's feelings, were also particularly highlighted. The yellow raincoat shines on every page and becomes a symbol of self-confidence and courage.
The bilingual reading, held in both German and English, addresses important themes such as courage, self-confidence, and joie de vivre—all values that Emma impressively embodies. Thus, the book conveys a clear message to its readers: Be brave. Be yourself and stand up for yourself. Because you are who you are.
