Lola Suárez, one of the most established voices in children's and young adult literature from the Canary Islands, was honoured on the Day of Canary Islands Writers on 20 October at a ceremony in the Espacio La Granja in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. The event combined institutional recognition with a theatrical presentation inspired by her work.
“A work that is part of the reading experience of many who found in her books the words they heard at home and a relatable way to tell their land. For a child to discover that their own life has a place in literature can be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with reading,”
said Migdalia Machín, the councillor for Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, who opened the event and presented the diploma to Suárez. Machín emphasised that “her trajectory as a teacher and writer reminds us that writing for children requires skill and a deep respect for the intelligence of the reader. This tribute partly expresses the gratitude of those who have grown up with her books and invites us to bring them to new readers, as a work continues to live on in those who read it.”
Following this, writer and educator Ana Belén Hormiga shared a biographical overview of Lola Suárez, after which a theatrical piece inspired by some of her texts was performed, transporting the audience into the literary universe of the author: ‘La huella de Lola, entre la calima y la maresía’. Directed by Nacho Cabrera from Teatro La República, it featured performances by Sara Álvarez and Toni Báez, accompanied by pianist Antonio Brito, who together explored the characters, memories, and identity markers in Suárez's work.
Lola Suárez, born in Arrecife in 1955, is both a writer and educator. Her literary output includes stories, tales, and legends, while her commitment to promoting literature extends to congresses, workshops, author meetings, and reading clubs. In 2026, she published ‘¿Quién es Bruno?’ (Diego Pun Ediciones), an illustrated work by Lana Corujo that delves into the emotional universe of adolescence, exploring themes such as friendship, identity, group belonging, and personal changes.
The Day of Writers is celebrated annually in the Canary Islands since 2018, aiming to highlight the contributions of women to literature and to reclaim their legacy.
