A Literary Brunch with Juego de Pelota in Irapuato

Some places become part of every story through the different stages of the life. Irapuato, Guanajuato, is one of those places for Laura Elena Rodríguez Garcidueñas.

Laura studied at university in Irapuato and later worked there, making the city part of an important chapter of her life. Years later, she returned with a very different project: her new book, Juego de Pelota: Descubre sus secretos con La Catrina Bohemia.

This time, the presentation took place at Brunch Kahlo, a café owned by a friend and former colleague. The setting made the encounter particularly personal. Instead of a formal presentation, the book was shared during a warm and relaxed literary brunch, surrounded by conversation and a familiar atmosphere.

Laura talked about how Juego de Pelota came to be, the research behind it, and the many conversations she had with players, researchers, and cultural organizations while learning about the different traditions connected to the ancestral ballgames of Mexico.

The conversation was made even more special by the presence of curious and enthusiastic young readers, who participated actively, and showed genuine interest in discovering more about the game of pelota and the stories behind it. Their curiosity was a lovely reminder of why sharing cultural heritage with children is so important.

Laura also shared one of the central motivations behind her work: finding ways to bring Mexican culture closer to children through stories and illustrations. Through La Catrina Bohemia, she hopes to spark curiosity and help younger generations discover the traditions and cultural heritage of Mexico.

There was something especially nice about returning to Irapuato for this presentation. Laura once came to the city as a university student and later as a professional. This time, she returned as an author, sharing a book that grew from her connection to Mexican culture and from her desire to make that heritage accessible to new generations.

The warm and familiar atmosphere at Brunch Kahlo made the occasion feel less like a formal presentation and more like sharing a story around the table with people who were genuinely interested in hearing it.

For Laura, this literary brunch became another lovely connection between different chapters of her life—and another opportunity to share Juego de Pelota in Mexico.