Greece
233
Heliopulos, Bangeles (text)
Barbaruse, Leda
(illus.)
Trigonopsarules enantion Megalu Karcharia (Little fish against giant shark)
Athena : Patakes, 2000. - [34] p.
ISBN 960-378-570-9
Sea - Courage – Friendship
Hell is loose in these originally illustrated depths of the sea. Because of
his popularity, the courageous and environmentally conscious Trigonopsarules (»triangle
fish«) is a thorn in the flesh of the merciless giant shark. Dreaded by all, he
wants to pierce the secret of his rival's success and invites him to dinner.
Equipped with a tricky tie, the clever little fish accepts the invitation. The
shark's attack proves to be fatal: The jealous giant loses all his teeth and, on
top of that, all his friends. Only the bold Trigonopsarules stays to feed him
plancton-soup and strives for his re-integration into society. Together, the
award-winning author and the well-known graphic artist have created a beautiful
picture book for children. (6+)
234
Phrankule,
Photeine (text)
Tsaknia, Eue (illus.)
To miso pithari (Half a
jug)
Athena : Hellenika Grammata, 2000. - 32 p.
(Seira: Histories gia paidia)
ISBN 960-393-051-2
Greek history - Love of one's country - International understanding
The renowned educationalist Photeine Phrankule masterfully tells the
superbly illustrated story of Eleni and her beloved grandfather, who brings the
people, nature and the past of her native Lesbos close to her. He teaches her to
preserve memories like dispersed and broken pieces of antique pottery. After his
death, Eleni keeps coming back to these sights of her childhood as a grown-up
woman to be true to his legacy. For everything tells of the ancestors' labour
and sweat but also of the miseries of the refugees from both countries: Here is
Lesbos, there is Asia-Minor, the former Greek home, and in between, the silver,
starry strip of the Aegean Sea. Surely, the other half of the collected pottery
must lie on the opposite, Turkish coast. (9+) <>
235
Kalogeropulu,
Xenia (text)
Misuras, Tasos
(illus.)
To sklabi (The slave boy)
Athena : Kedros, 2000. - 68 p.
ISBN 960-04-1763-6
Duty - Fulfilment - Faithfulness - Love
Once upon a time there was a prince who parted on a quest for the beautiful
princess with the blue rose. On this long and dangerous journey, he was
accompanied by his older brother, illegitimate son of the king and a slave. The
princess fell in love with the slave-boy but married the prince. The loyal slave
continued to serve his brother without saying a word of his secret love until,
one day, he was accused of an attempted murder on the prince. Actress Xenia
Kalogeropulu, well experienced in children's theatre, has brilliantly adapted
this fascinating folktale from Simi for the stage and produced a wonderfully
illustrated play. (10+)
236
Kamaratu-Gialluse,
Eirene (text)
Phasianos, Alekos
(illus.)
To dentro tes eutychias (The tree of happiness)
Athena : Ekd. Periplus, 2000. - 27 p.
ISBN 960-8151-39-2
Living together
The great contemporary painter Alekos Phasianos has masterfully transposed
this wonderful story of the search for happiness into pictures. The greedy fruit
trees suffer terribly from their status symbol, necklaces of fruit-pits, until,
one day, a search for the tree of happiness is undertaken. The long and arduous
journey finally leads to the desired tree of happiness, which generously offers
its fruits to the hovering, singing birds. The good news soon spread among the
selfish trees, and soon their lives are radically changed by the newly
experienced joys of giving. (8+)
237
Karatzaphere, Ioanna
Oneira kai gelia (Dreams and laughter)
Athena : Kastaniotes, 1999. - 170 p.
(Ephebike bibliotheke)
ISBN 960-03-2485-9
Puberty – Media
Using colloquial language interspersed with English expressions, a
puberty-plagued teenager talks about everyday life and the usual troubles with
family and school. Torn between hip clothing, profound thoughts, and diffuse
dreams about his future, rather shy with the opposite sex, he is nevertheless
courageous enough to save the life of a minister's son. He becomes a media-star,
and suddenly, his life changes. The author, known through her novels, articles,
and translations, engulfs the readers with her amusing style. She raises her
hero, who lives in a cold, technology- and media-dominated world, to a
representative of today's teenagers and traces his way into adulthood with great
sympathy. (13+)
238
Papadiamantes,
Alexandros (text)
Pulos, Kostas
(adapt.)
Sbetlin (i.e. Vasilev
Svetlin) (illus.)
Ho Pantarotas (Man of many questions)
Athena : Papadopulos, 2001. - [28] p.
(Seira »Ta Hellenika«)
ISBN 960-412-049-2
Simple life - Human fate
The book is set in 1870: Alexis Kaloskeris, an experienced fisherman and
head of a family, has a hard time earning his daily bread. When the law
prescribes a substitute captain, Kaloskeris is devastated. To survive, he
invents Jannis Pantarotas and is often forced to bribe the officials with little
delicacies. But when two thieves steal his boat - and therewith the basis of his
livelihood - he promises never again to break maritime law. The love of nature
and of his home-country characterise the entire works of Alexandros
Papadiamantes (1851-1911), no doubt the most prominent Greek author. His heroes
are the »Misérables« of his times: the simple, poor people, deeply marked by
their bitter experiences of life. (10+)
239
Sakka-Nikolakopulu, Nannina (text)
Kalantzakes, Demetres (illus.)
Milon ho Krotoniates (Milo of Kroton)
Athena : Phytrakes, 2001. - 116 p.
ISBN 960-535-148-x
Ancient Greece - Olympic spirit – Sports
This brilliant historical novel, illustrated with marvellous vase
paintings, is set in the glorious times of Magna Graecia. It conjures up the
Olympic spirit that united the Greeks in peace and reminded them of their common
origin, language, and religion. Milo, one of the greatest athletes of Antiquity,
was born around 552 BC; at the age of 16, he took part in the 61st Olympic
Games. He was Olympic victor six times and also won several other sports games
in Greece. At the 67th Olympic Games in 512 BC, legendary Milo was defeated by
his best student. Trainer of athletes, follower of Pythagoras, deeply religious
and much admired, he continued his life striving for the reconciliation of his
home-town and Sybaris. (13+)