The grandfather of all the children, Spiridon Vangheli, turned 80 on June 14. A jubilee performance was held on this occasion at the branch of the National Children’s Library housed by Licurici Theater. The event titled “Spiridon Vangheli – the angel of childhood” brought together admirers of Vangheli’s books, government officials, colleagues and children, Info-Prim Neo reports. President Nicolae Timofti handed over the medal “Mihai Eminescu” to the writer for special contribution to developing the children’s literature and to promoting the national-cultural values abroad and for prodigious work. Minister of Education Mihail Shleahtitski said that Spiridon Vangheli is able to love children and grownups and to ensure the most important protection – of the children – by giving them values. He awarded the writer the Diploma of Honor of the Ministry of Education, saying by a set of books written by Spiridon Vangheli will be distributed to all the education institutions of the country. Writer Ion Hadirca thanked Spiridon Vangheli for his most famous character Guguta, while teachers and children of a number of schools staged fragments of the writer’s works featuring Guguta, Ciubotica and other well-known protagonists. “We wish him good health and many more years full of accomplishments. We would like the grandchildren of our grandchildren to be able to read the books of Spiridon Vangheli as the most important ones in childhood,” Valentina Goiman, head of the Balti-based Primary School No.21 “Spiridon Vangheli”, has told Info-Prim Neo. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture declared 2012 as the Year of Spiridon Vangheli. A Chisinau kindergarten will be soon named by his name. Spiridon Vangheli was born on June 14, 1932 in Grinauti, Rascani. He wrote many books for children and an Abecedar (Primer) together with Grigore Vieru.