Admont Monastery presents children's book
Friday, October 15, 2021
With their curiosity, Benni and Ella not only solve the mystery surrounding a mysterious museum heist, but also explore modern monastic life.
The valuable Abrogans has been stolen from the Abbey Museum. But the two amateur detectives Benni and Ella are on the trail of the thief. In the process, they explore the entire Benedictine Abbey of Admont and experience an exciting adventure. During their chase, the children enter almost every building on the monastery grounds and get to know the monastery residents. In the process, they learn about the life of Admont's monks, the tasks they devote themselves to, and the rules on which their daily lives are based. Along the way, the new children's book provides a variety of insights into modern monastic life.
In order to convey the mission of faith, culture and education that Admont's Benedictines face to the next generation in a child-friendly way, it was wrapped up in an exciting detective story. "Our thoughts about presenting the Benedictine monastery in an accessible way ended up in a children's book. In doing so, we decided against a factual story and in favor of a detective story to take part in," says Mario Brandmüller, Head of the Department for Culture, Tourism and Communication.
Riddles, search pictures and smaller tasks await the reader, who is in constant dialogue with the main character Benni. The children's book entitled "The Hunt for the Stolen Treasure" was realized by freelance journalist and copywriter Bettina Gruber from Liezen. "I gave Benni and Ella a very self-confident, almost cheeky image and sent them from one adventure to the next, crisscrossing a sprawling monastery complex. It was particularly important to me to involve the reader, who plays an active role in this book. He is part of the story and together with the two main characters he manages to solve a tricky case," says the author. The illustrations were penned by freelance artist Alfred Zettler from Liezen. "The Hunt for the Stolen Treasure" is an adventure for the whole family and will be available from October 27, 2021 in the museum store of Admont Abbey, the Liezen town bookstore and the Wallig book & paper stores in Admont and Gröbming.
I am always an enthusiastic reader of children's books and this book particularly arouses my interest. It brings our house, i.e. monastery, close to children and adults and is tastefully and interestingly prepared by the texts of Mrs. Bettina Gruber and the illustrations of Alfred Zettler. "The Rule of St. Benedict (Ora et labora et lege - pray and work and read) is deeply rooted in history and is lived by us Benedictines today. I thank you very much for the idea of this children's book worth reading and - due to the illustrations one may well say - picture book and wish much success and a lot of young and older readers", says Abbot Gerhard Hafner OSB.
