App Driver Turns Car into Mobile Bookstore in Acre to Promote Reading

Reni José Schmitt, a 57-year-old app driver from Rio Grande do Sul living in Acre for 18 years, has transformed his vehicle into a mobile bookstore to encourage reading, particularly among children. After a career spanning over three decades selling books, Schmitt, who previously worked in sales at schools and events, faced limitations carrying heavy book boxes following surgery for varicose veins. This led him to become an app driver in Rio Branco. For over a month, he has been bringing children's books, priced between R$10 and R$150, into his car, aiming to spark interest in reading during rides. Schmitt's passion for books began in childhood when his low-income farmer parents could not afford books, gifting him a map of Brazil instead. He recalls reading over a thousand books in a single year as a student and has dedicated 35 years to offering books to people. He believes that suggesting intellectual improvements and witnessing a child's transformation through reading brings him immense joy. Schmitt's daily routine involves driving from 5 AM to 9 AM, then again from 10:45 AM to 2 PM, and finally from 4 PM to 10 PM, with a break in the afternoon. He finds that selling books sometimes generates more income than the rides themselves, indicating the local community's investment in their children's education. He prioritizes offering books to families with children, noting that it calms agitated kids and makes journeys more pleasant. Schmitt, who previously sold various book types like encyclopedias, now exclusively focuses on children's literature from his existing stock. He finds passengers are often surprised and delighted by the mobile bookstore concept, which he believes makes journeys feel shorter and smoother. He has also encountered touching situations where children were eager for books their parents couldn't afford, sometimes selling them at cost price. Schmitt emphasizes the importance of early reading for child development and sees simple moments, like reading during a ride, as valuable learning opportunities. He concludes that his recent career change has taught him humility and resilience, the ability to react to adversity, and the importance of focusing on the present moment to learn, teach, and share.