App driver encourages reading during races in Acre After working for more than three decades selling books at schools and events, 57-year-old Reni José Schmitt, from Rio Grande do Sul, needed to reinvent his own routine after undergoing surgery to remove varicose veins, in Rio Branco. With the limitation of being able to carry the weight of boxes of books, he decided to start working as an app driver. A little over a month ago, however, the car became a kind of showcase to encourage reading. In addition to transporting passengers, Reni also takes children's books to sell and help spark interest in reading, especially among children. ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp Born in the city of Aratiba, in Rio Grande do Sul, the driver has lived in Acre for 18 years. Graduated in Real Estate Business Management and an Agricultural technician, he arrived in Acre with the aim of studying specific religious contexts and built a professional career focused on selling books. According to Reni, his passion for reading began in childhood, when his father, unable to buy books, gave his son just a map of Brazil. "When I was a boy, my parents were farmers, with low income, with many economic difficulties. I always asked my father for a book, but he couldn't afford to buy it. In one of these, he bought a map of Brazil and gave it to me. That's when this passion was born", he recalled. Reni José Schmitt, 57 years old, decided to start working as an app driver and transformed his car into a kind of showcase to encourage reading Pâmela Celina/g1 READ ALSO: Jabuti Academic Award: professor from Acre is finalist with book on extractive reserves in the Amazon 7-year-old girl with autism launches her first book and has 14 more ready: 'All with an essence', says father Graduated from AC, social worker publishes book that encourages entrepreneurial spirit Gifted, 11-year-old from Acre launches book about birds from the Urban Amazon photographed by him Young Brazilians are consuming more books His interest in reading has always been with him. According to him, when he was still a student, he read more than a thousand books in a single year. After working as an agricultural technician, he started selling books professionally and never left the activity again. "I have been offering books for 35 years. This passion for serving people and suggesting intellectual improvements makes me work every day. [...] When the book is sold, it gives me immense joy to know that it is another child having the opportunity to receive a little bit of the transformation that the book can make", he said. Change of routine and adaptation In June 2025, Reni underwent a saphenectomy, surgery to remove varicose veins. Used to mounting exhibitions in schools, especially in more peripheral communities, Reni began to find it difficult to carry the weight of books. From this, the gaucho decided to invest in a car and start working as an app driver. Before starting to carry the books inside the vehicle, he spent around 20 days getting to know the new profession linked to his love of books -- all safely and calmly. In his new profession, he organizes his routine between races. Reni leaves home at 5am, works until 9am, returns between 10:45am and 2pm, rests during the afternoon and returns to the streets from 4pm to 10pm. Reni has lived in Acre for 18 years and started selling books professionally after reading more than a thousand books in a single year when he was a student. Pâmela Celina/g1 In addition to supplementing income, the books began to transform the environment inside the car, with prices ranging between R$10 and R$150. Reni also says that he usually offers copies, especially when transporting families with children. "The first objective is mainly when mothers and fathers arrive with children, to make the journey smoother, happier, more peaceful. The child enters agitated, so I give him a book to look at with his mother. He calms down, calms down and arrives at his destination happy", he described. According to him, some days the sale of books even exceeds the revenue obtained from the races. Some passengers also place orders and invite you to display the collection at home. "There are days when I earn more income from selling books than from the app itself. This shows that the Acre community really wants to invest in their children [...] It's not just money that counts. Seeing a happy child, interested in a book, is already a huge reward for me," he said. Books are displayed on the seat next to the driver and passengers can see them and, if they are interested, buy a copy Pâmela Celina/g1 Passion that endures Reni also shares that she sold books from different areas such as encyclopedias, but that she currently works exclusively with children's titles. All material is part of a stock acquired over the years. According to the driver, passengers are often surprised to see the books displayed in the car. "Every day there is a lot of laughter. People come in, look and say: 'Wow, that's cool'. The passenger wins and so do I. The trips become shorter, smoother", he added. Although most of the experiences were positive, he remembers some situations that moved him, such as children who wanted to take a book, but their parents were unable to buy it. "There were some children who grabbed the book and didn't want to let go. Sometimes I sell it practically at cost, because just seeing that child interested in this tool is already a payment. It's not just money that counts", he said. Books cost between R$10 and R$150 and are offered mainly to families with children to calm passengers during trips Pâmela Celina/g1 For Reni, encouraging reading in the first years of life makes a difference in child development. He believes that simple moments, like reading during an app run, can create learning opportunities. "Sometimes the child comes in agitated. The mother starts reading to her and, when she arrives at her destination, she is calm. It is gratifying to see the results we were able to provide", he stated. After facing surgery and completely changing the way he works, the gaucho says that the main lesson learned from this fresh start is resilience. "I believe that the word is humility and resilience. The ability to react to adversity. Every day we need to focus on the present moment, learn, teach and share the best we have", he concluded. Application driver encourages reading by selling books in Acre Review Acre's news programs