By Calliope Casagrande @kalliopikasagrande
Heidi, an orphaned girl, moves in with her grumpy grandfather in a lonely cabin high up in the mountains. She quickly grows to love her grandfather, the mountain peaks, the goats, the eagles, and Peter, the goatherd. And later, when she moves to the city with a wealthy family, she will come to love Clara, the little girl in the wheelchair/. Nervertheless, she will never be able to forget the high mountains and the eagle that cried out: “Only if you find your own peak will you be truly happy.”
This is an adaptation of the classic and beloved story of Heidi by Maria Papayanni, written for children aged four and up. Combined with the enchanting illustrations of Efi Lada, who uses earthy tones and distinctive figures to carry us along with the narration, the book becomes a complete and harmonious work that deserves our time and attention.
Personally, I laughed and cried with this adaptation, as the story of Heidi, told through Maria Papayanni’s powerful narration, moved me deeply. Characters, transitions, adventure, and truths expressed in the simplest way and without overt didacticism or unnecessary words.
I enjoyed the compassion and the passion for the quest of genuine joy, the beauty of simplicity, and the sense of belonging to a place that makes one feel happy and whole. The way guilt appears as a natural consequence of a wrong action. The inner strength that empowers the body and overcomes all weakness. The nature that offers solutions to every problem, nurturing strong bodies and peaceful minds.
This book has been published by Patakis publishing house, https://www.patakis.gr/books/9786180705911-pes-to-m-ena-paramythi-chainti-apo-to-omonymo-vivlio-tis-giochana-spiri/