Children’s Books by Contemporary Greek Authors

Welcome back! This time let’s talk Children’s Books! There are a multitude of contemporary Greek authors writing picture books, and many have Greek themes. Some are even bilingual. There are so many talented authors, I could fill several pages. Let’s meet some with more recentreleases.

PanagiotaAndreadakis

After decades in the health industry, Panagiota swicthed gears to follow her passion for her sharing Hellenic heritage and Orthodox Faith. She’s penned two Greek/English bilingual books that help kids learn about Greek traditions and customs. The ABC of the Twelve Days of ChristmasandTheABCofGreekEaster.

ElisavetArkolaki

This multilingual and multi-published author runs a parenting blog, is a translator, and has been a foreign language teacher Elisavet’s bilingual books have been published in 50 languages, including English and Greek. She’s also written books on raising multicultural children. Among her most p o p u l a r i s H a p p i n e s s S t r e e t (independently published, 2020), in which a young girl reflects on summer memorieswithhergrandmother

EleniElefterias

The multi-published author and musician also teaches Modern Greek She’s the force behind the Bilingual Bookshop in NSW, Australia Among Eleni’s most popular bilingual GreekEnglish books are When Can You Play With Me? (2022) and My Grandma is a Musician (2020). They’re both published byGrammatikaPty.Ltd.

EleniFuiaxis

This actress/model turned entrepreneur and author pens stories that teach lessons about gratitude, self-reflection, problemsolving, empathy, kindness, and inclusivity. Picky Patrick (Mascot Kids, 2022) is the first book in the ‘Kids We LoveCollection’.

MariaKamoulakou-Marangoudakis

An archaeologist by trade, Maria began writing in 2013. Her first book, the award-winning Sky Cloud City: The Adventures of Hope & Trusty (2016), was inspired by ‘The Birds’ by Aristophanes. Arthur the Fly-Slayer & the Forty Dragons (Little Centaur Press, 2018) is inspired by a Laconian tale. It’s also been translated into French Recently, she published an updated version of Sky Cloud City (Little Centaur Press, 2021). Since 2020, she’s written a series of short stories for KPHTH magazine, in which siblings Minos Zoiros and Ariadne Lalaoussa introduce kids to Cretan culture,history,andarchaeology

EllenKaris

You may know her as the Greek Goddess of Comedy, but she’s also a Sunday School teacher and the author of Special People: Godparents in the Orthodox Christian Faith (Bowker Identifier Services, 2020). Ellen created this resource to help teach kids about the special relationship betweenaGodparentandGodchild

NickKatsoris

A New York attorney “by day”, Nick is the author of the ‘Loukoumi’ book series and founder of the Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation. Inspired by the birth of his son, he wrote the first Loukoumi book in 2003. There are now eight books in the award-winning series. Many celebrities have lent their voices to his stories, including Loukoumi’s Good Deeds (independently published, 2009) narratedbyJohnandJenniferAniston.

BriannaKoucosMidgley

The ‘Yiayia’s Kitchen’ book series (independently published) was inspired by Brianna’s memories. In the series, family traditions, and how to prepare a Greek recipe Something happens, leading to a teachable moment. Currently, there are three books in the series: Honesty (2019), Patience (2020), andFamilyTraditions(2021).

PenelopeLagos

A model, actress, avid animal activist, her first book, I Miss My Best Friend (GreenTree, 2017), about losing a pet. It’s a recipient of the Reader’s Favorite 5-Star Award Penelope’ssecondbook,Different is Beautiful (Who Chains You Books, 2020), is about accepting yourself and othersnomatterhowyoulook.

JoannaLoupakos

Kanella and Sunny (independently published, 2021) is about Joanna’s grandmother and her pet canary The immigration story follows Kanella as she pursues her American dream, with her trusty feathered friend at her side It’s a story about following your dreams and nevergivingup

AnnaProkos

The ‘Lucky Book’ series (A-to-Z Publishing) teaches kids about Greek customs and history Her first book, The Lucky Cake (2011), is about the Vasilopita tradition. Learn about Pascha traditions in The Lucky Egg (2013). The Lucky Day (2021) is about Greek Independence Day and the Greek Revolution. OXI Day takes the spotlight inTheLuckyWord(2021).

AgathaRodi

T h i s mu lt ip u b l i s h e d author, poet, and publisher h a s b e e n a f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e educator for the past twenty years. Amelie Goes to Grandma’s (independently published, 2021) is among Agatha’s most popular Her books have been translated into English and French, and her latest, A Young Kimolistas (Weaving Waves, 2022), will also be translated into Japanese

AngelikiStamatopoulou-Pederson

The mother of a son with hearing loss, Angeliki penned The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree (AuthorHouse, 2019). It introduces kids to the sensitive world of children with cochlear implants. It modelsways to approach, befriend, and include these children in school activities.It’sbeentranslatedintoGreek.

DemetraTsavarisLecourezos

An entrepreneur, film producer, and co-director, she’stheauthorof seven books. The first in Demetra’s ‘Young World Traveler’ edutainment series that takes kids on virtual travels, was published by thewordverve in 2014. Ready, Set, Opa! (2017) transports readers to Greece It’s also available in Greek She also penned Letters from Around the World: Learning the Greek Alphabet (2017) and Cancer in My

Family (2020), co-authored by her daughter, Katerina Lecourezos. The fourth ‘Young World Traveler’ book, also co-authored with Katerina, is called A GlobeWithinaGlobe(2022).

StephanieTimotheou

A Greek-Cypriot journalist, Stephanie penned the “Ikoyenia” series, five bilingual Greek-English rhyming tales that follow a young girl named Anthea and the relationships she shares with her loved ones. There’s Cooking with Yiayia, Gardening with Papou, Playtime with Baba, Bedtime with Mama, and Christmas with My Family. She’s also the author of two My Greek Guide books: NumbersandTheAlphabet. KonstantinaG.Tsioutsiopoulos

It’s Not a Skirt (independently published, 2021) is this author’s debut. She channeled her love of Greek dance and customs into a cute story about a boy who has to wear a foustanella for a dance performance and is worried what other kids will think. The story teaches kids to be proud of where they come from and to celebratetheirculturaltraditions.

VioletFavero

This author and illustrator also owns Yiayia’s Market, where she sells authentic items from Greece Violet is the grandmother of nine! Her first books, Silly Yiayia (CreateSpace, 2015) and Sunday Dinner at Silly Yaya’s (Create Space,2016)areamonghermostpopular. Pete Comes to America (Meadow Road, 2019) is based on her grandfather’s immigrationstory

Well, that will get you started! See you next timeformoreofMnemosyni’sMusings.

Maria A. Karamitsos has been a positive voice in Greek media since 2002. She's the founder & former publisher/editor of Windy City Greek magazine. For 10 years, she served as associate editor & senior writer for The Greek Star newspaper. Her work has been published in NEO magazine, Greek Circle magazine, The National Herald, Greek Reporter, Harlots Sauce Radio, Women Who Write, KPHTH magazine, XPAT Athens, and more. Maria has contributed to three books: Greektown Chicago: Its History, Its Recipes; The Chicago Area Ethnic Handbook; and the inaugural essay collection, Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal. She recently completed her 1st novel, called FindingEleftheria.