Reading Club: Children’s Book | The Boy with the Tree

The SNFCC’s Book Club for Children renews its appointment for February, facilitated by theater pedagogue Artemis Manou, available with physical presence and online! 

February’s meeting will be discussing the book “The Boy with the Tree” by Rodoula Pappa. 

On Sunday, February 20, young readers will meet at the Book Castle to share impressions, feelings and thoughts, as well as to embark on an imaginary journey, sparked by the book of the month, into the fascinating worlds emerging from its pages.

In addition, February’s meeting will also take place online via Zoom on Saturday, February 26. 

The book
“Tree grows out of child’s head! Is it dangerous? Contagious? Fruit-bearing? Coniferous? Evergreen? Can we keep on sleeping easy?
Starring: Fire-eating gentlemen and lady-contortionists tying themselves into knots; kind-hearted people and nasty, venomous ones; a blue beanie; a gentleman in top hat and tails; three out-of-tune trombones; the municipal band and gardeners; a cook from Zanzibar; a solemn goat from Anafi; fortune-telling fish; electric stingrays; bored lions; a hotheaded elephant; a gigantic runny nose; a crocodile who suddenly finds himself; a baffled finance minister; and many others. 
And center stage among them, a child that is very different from any other child, seeing as he has a tree grow out of his head.
Let’s all explore his thoughts, actions and emotions together. What were they in the beginning and how did they progress? What part did the gaunt man in the tailcoat play in this? What about the mirror he gave the boy? Whatever happened to the mirror?... At this month’s Children’s Book Club, we just might come across a mirror...
 

The author:
Rodoula Pappa has written the following books:  The number book,Once upon a time a cage (2014),Far far away… (2017), When I grow up (2018), Once upon a time a little deer (2019), Lilo and Loli (2019), Aesop’s Fables (2021). The Boy with the Tree was awarded the 2013 Greek National Award for a Children’s Literary Book; her book On puppy’s nose, a grasshopper was awarded the 2018 Greek National Award for Illustrated Children’s Book; and her book This is how books are made was awarded the 2020 Greek National Award for a Children’s Competence Book.

The facilitator:
Artemis Manou holds a BA in Greek Language and Literature (Linguistics major) from the University of Athens and an MA in Teaching Greek as a Foreign/Second Language. In addition, she has graduated from the Drama School of Vassilis Diamantopoulos. After working for a few years in private education and as an actress, since 2009 she has been combining her love of theater and children, working as a motivational speaker and a theater director. She has co-operated with Onassis Stegi at the Youth Theater Festival, where she wrote theatrical plays and directed performances for teenagers, and at the experiential learning program “Contemporary Art: First you live... then you understand” that Onassis Stegi carried out in primary schools, where she organized workshops for creative expression on contemporary art stimuli together with Tzeni Argyriou, Andreas Kasapis and Myrto Tikof. Since 2017, she has been working at the National Theatre, facilitating workshops for children, teenagers and educators. She has authored a total of 15 plays for teens. A special place in her heart belongs to the National Theatre’s program “Theater in Greek,” with the participation of Greek and refugee teenagers. The theatrical play The Journey, which she co-authored with Vangelis Kyriakou, was included in the repertoire of the National Theatre Young People’s Stage in 2018. She was born and lives in Athens. But she dreams of living in many other places too – together with her family. 

Activities for children before the Book Club meeting:
- “Tree grows out of child’s head!” is a newspaper headline on page 15 of the book. After reading the relevant article (and after reading the book), write a letter to the newspaper explaining whether you think this is dangerous or strange, and how you would like people to perceive it.
- What did the boy actually see when he looked in the mirror and then went on with his life? Go to page 72 of the book and write about it (or draw it) as prompted by the author!
- Say, what do you see when you look in the mirror? Draw a portrait of yourself. (And if we assume that something grew out of your head, what would it be?)

Anyone reserving a seat at the Book Club is required to have read the book of the month.

Sunday 20/02 | 17.00-18.15
CHILDRENS' READING ROOM NLG (Green Hill NLG)

Up to 22 participants | For children aged 7 to 10
Free participation via online pre-registration

Pre-registration for 20/02, starts on Monday 31/01 at 12.00
 

Saturday 26/02 |17.00-18.00
 ZOOM

Up to 25 participants | For children aged 7 to 10
Free participation via online pre-registration 

Pre-registration for 25/02, starts on Monday 31/01 at 12.00

Facilitator: Artemis Manou

The book The Boy with the Tree by Rodoula Pappa is available in Greek from Nefeli Publishing. 
 

For the entry of the public in the activity area, the minors from 4 to 17 years old can present, a statement of negative self test (24 hours), a certificate of diagnostic test PCR (72 hours) or rapid (48 hours), according to the latest provisions of the Joint Ministerial Decision.

The use of face mask and social distancing measures are mandatory in indoor and outdoor areas of the SNFCC, in accordance with Hellenic National Public Health Organization regulations. 

Due to public health measures, there may be changes regarding either the staging of the event, or the maximum number of participants.

Children should always be accompanied by parents or adult chaperones, who should stay outside the activity area for as long as the activity lasts.

As part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center's collaboration with the National Library of Greece, ), the February  book for the Children’s Book Club has been chosen by NLG staff.