A collection of fairy tales written by child refugees in Greece has gone on sale to help those like the book’s authors.
Travelling Tales features a rugby-playing dog, a king who grew to love animals and chickens fighting an alien invasion among its eight stories.
The book is the brainchild of Brazilian journalist Debora de Pina Castiglione and her sister Beatriz. The two combined their love of words and illustrations to create the book but the ideas came directly from the children.
Debora ran workshops with Syrian and Kurdish children aged between four and 14 years old, at three refugee camps close to Thessaloniki in Vasilika, Lagadikia and Oreokastro.
It gave the children something to do without focusing on their own lives.“The idea was not to have the children talk about their journeys or experiences fleeing war, at least not directly,” Debora said. “It was to let them tell the stories they wanted to, in ways they chose themselves.
“I think it’s important for young people to engage with one another. Children all over the world are watching the refugee situation, or hearing it on news programmes their parents watch and listen to, and as well as hoping it would be an interesting project for the children at the camps, I wanted to do something so the children outside of the crisis could see the children caught up in it on their own terms, as children with fun and interesting stories, just like they are.”
And there is something entirely captivating about the stories. In The Travelling Princess, Amira shuns her royal title to live as a poor person who goes around giving away gold she found as she explored the world.
In Aliens vs Chicken, Earth is under attack from extraterrestrials who want to steal all the chicken eggs in the world. While humans are relieved about the aliens’ demands, the chickens are not happy and fight back, reclaiming the eggs.
The story was written by nine-year-old Shahd who lives in the military camp of Lagadikia. Debora describes her stories as “full of adventure. Her creativity reminds us that there are heroes even where we least expect to find them.”
“We spent four months with the children,” Debora added. “In some cases, the children spoke English very well, and had quite clear ideas of their stories. In others, we worked with a translator, and also spent time with them to help them develop their ideas, to make the stories hold together better.
“But the point was that these are the stories of the children, so we didn’t change their words, or add anything they did not include themselves.”
Five professional illustrators helped to bring the stories to life, including Beatriz.
The book was published last month and is available in English as well as Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Dutch. It is for sale via Amazon priced at £10.
Money collected from the sale of the book will be used to help support projects that look for alternative housing solutions to the military camps.
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“hope is a waking dream.”
-aristotle
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credits: the irish news, Debora and Beatriz de Pina Castiglione, child refugees in greece
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#teachers for refugees
wondrous!!!
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it is, susie –
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Sounds marvelous!
>
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❤
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What a fabulous idea, Beth. This is wonderful in that it gives the children a voice and seeks to provide alternative housing for others in similar circumstances. I’m hoping I can get a copy now. Thanks so much for sharing.
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I think so too, and for the same reasons –
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I have ordered my copy! 🙂
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Wonderful review. ☺☺
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the irish times –
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What a cool idea! Thanks for sharing, Beth.
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i think so too –
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I love picture books – 8th graders never tire of being read to! Truly. There is so much to learn from a story. School started yesterday for me – adults only – kids (the best part) arrive Thursday. Have a great year, keep creating curious, thinking, empathetic young people. Peace.
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me too, clay. best of luck when the kids return and have a wonderful year !
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Great share, Beth. What a wonderful idea.
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i loved the idea too –
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Wonderfully done all around, Beth. ❤
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yes, all good from bad –
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Wonderful! Never underestimate the creativity (and heart) of children.
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So true –
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that is so true, jennie – no limits
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😀
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Gotta reblog this one. What a great project! Going to Amazon right now.
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Wonderful-
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thank you sarah, i love this project too )
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Reblogged this on Sarah Russell Poetry and commented:
Beth is able to see the world through a child’s eyes and to translate it for us mere mortal adults. Here, she has found stories by refugee children to share. A direct way we can help these kids find a way home.
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Reblogged this on Ayesha's Diary.
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thank you so much, ayesha –
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This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing!
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You are very welcome, happy to –
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Thanks for this. Sending to my grandkids.
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i’m so glad, jan –
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so wonderful! Checking it out on amazon now
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wonderful –
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What a wonderful idea! Love the illustrations.
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i agree with both things, judi –
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This is amazing!
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it really is –
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A wonderful initiative and so beautifully done! Thanks for sharing this Beth ❤
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i think so too, sue and my pleasure –
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Thank you Beth, for bringing this to our attention. It is in my Amazon cart now.
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My pleasure to share it
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I want to buy at least one of these books! The money goes to helping these precious children. Thank you for sharing this. I will share your post on my blog, if I can and if it’s okay with you. Their story must be read.
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that would be wonderful, and very kind of you. i loved your idea of what you’ll do with it.
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Even if I buy them one at a time, maybe it will help. I did order one for now though.
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yes, you’re so right –
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Pingback: Traveling Tales – joyful2beeblogs
Idea of the year so far, this. I love it. We should all try and come up with a way to help a need dear to our heart, using our talents …
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yes, it’s a great one, eli and we should
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A mighty cause and worthy little ones must be protected and kept safe with their families. 🙏🕊 💖 What a gorgeous book, Beth.
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I agree with all of that, robin
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I will try to check this out but have been stretching my budget helping out with school clothes and extras. 😉 xo 💖
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no worries, just wanted to put it out there to the world.
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It has beautiful meaning and we must be accepting and helpful to little ones everywhere when they need our help. I feel bad for refugees, especially! 💞
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i agree, robin –
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Looks amazing.
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i love even the idea of it )
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Yes, the artwork is gorgeous.
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What a wonderful undertaking and collaboration, starting with the children. Thank you for sharing this book.
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My pleasure-
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THIS is makes us proud to be human beings. 💚
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It really does )
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lovely ❤
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Thank you
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Wonderful.
May I reblog this, with proper attribution?
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Absolutely)
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Pingback: A Reblog from “I Didn’t Have My Glasses On” – “a waking dream.” | Down the Hall on Your Left
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