RAMÓN Y CAJAL WITHIN CURRENT SPANISH CHILDREN’S MARKET

Abstract

This article is written to celebrate “Ramón y Cajal’s Research Year.” It presents and analyzes
those works dealing with the life of this Nobel Prize-winning scientist which are aimed at children
or young people, and which have been published in Spain in the current century. The purpose of this
work is twofold: on the one hand, to compile the current corpus of works that deal with this topic; on
the other, to focus on the value of making Cajal’s biography known, as a uniquely suitable means to
promote and strengthen among young people values, attitudes and behaviors such as love for work or perseverance to achieve one’s objectives. Cajal constitutes an exceptional role model to promote these qualities because he managed to be successful due to his tireless work and his stubborn effort, despite living in a social environment that was not favourable for scientific feats.