Today we celebrate World Book Day, a day when we celebrate stories and the love of reading. To commemorate this day we leave you the following list of top 5 Costa Rican authors.

Joaquín García Monge: (1881-1958) Considered the created of the Costa Rican realism novels he created international magazine Repertorio Americano (1919-1958) which was red in many Hispanic countries and was published for almost four decades. He was the author of novels such as El Moto (1900), Hijas del Campo (1900) and La Mala Sombra (1917).

Joaquín Gutiérrez Mangel: Born in Limon in 1918 he is known in particular for his book Cocorí (1947) one of the most popular children’s book in Costa Rica which tells the story of a young black boy from Limon who meets a blonde tourist girl. He is also the author of Manglar (novel-1947), Puerto Limon (1950) and La Hoja de Aire (1968) among others. He was also an excellent translator and journalist.

Jorge Debravo: (1938-1967) His life was caught short as he was the victim of car accident involving a drunk driver. Debravo is considered one of Costa Rica’s most prominent poets. His work includes: Milagro Abierto, Nosotros los Hombres, Vortices.

Carmen Lyra: (1888-1949) Her real name was Maria Isabel Carvajal Quesada her face is today featured in the 20 thousand colones bill. Her most famous book is Cuentos de mi tía Panchita, a collection of children stories separated in two parts, one that includes stories full of folkloric and traditional elements and another part known as the stories of “tío Conejo” based in the oral Latin-American tradition

Jose León Sánchez: (1929-) He is known for the novel “La Isla de los Hombres Solos” (The Lonely Men’s Island) published in 1972 and which tells the story of the conditions and tortures that took place at San Lucas Island back when it was a Costa Rican prison; Sánchez was imprisoned there from 1950-1988 sentenced for supposedly stealing from the famous Basilica de Cartago church. He has written multiple other books such as Tenochtitlan: The Last Battle of the Aztecs.