Greek / Greece
Mpampa, mporume na parume skylo anti gia myrmēngi?
(Papa, can we have a dog instead of an ant?)
Photiadēs, Philippos
(Photiadis, Philippos)
(text/illus.)
Athēna: Martēs (Martis), 2019. – 32 p.
ISBN 978-618-84312-0-1
Pet | Ant | Dog | Love of animals | Responsibility | Father | Son
Reading age: 6+
White Ravens issue: 2020
Ilias wants a dog for Christmas. His father thinks that this would be too great a responsibility. That is why Ilias gets a microscope and… an ant to go along with it. Despite his initial disappointment, the boy cares lovingly for the tiny animal, which he calls Miltos. A marmalade glass becomes his home, a parkour made of cardboard boxes keeps him fit. Ilias is proud, since Miltos can even walk on the ceiling – a dog can’t do that! Besides, he has nine lives like a cat – whether squashed, burned or trampled on, Miltos magically survives every normally fatal accident. After Ilias returns Miltos to his ant family after they storm the kitchen one day, he finally does get a dog. With so much experience as a pet guardian, he’s earned it! With a delightful dose of black humour, Philippos Photiadis describes in text and image the challenges of handling responsibility and loss. With his unmistakeable cardboard landscapes, the architect and artist creates a wonderful play space for his lovably ludicrous, and comic-like characters. (IBBY Greece Award 2020, shortlist) [TA]