Hello my beautiful people!
Today I come with something very special for your kids, grandkids, nephews and nieces.
For every kid who is bilingual or for kids who are making baby steps into Greek.
I know Greeks living abroad have a strong connection with Greece and always try to find ways for their kids or grandkids to stay in touch with Greek culture and especially the Greek language.
Well, I have a great suggestion to teach kids Greek in a fun and entertaining way.
A bilingual Greek–English story for children!
Bilingual books like this are a wonderful way for children to discover a new language, and they are becoming increasingly popular among families looking for Greek bilingual books for kids.
Not only will kids read an interesting story, but at the same time they will have the opportunity to practice their Greek.
I’m always looking for bilingual Greek -English material and when I saw Elisavet Arkolaki mentioned on a Facebook post from the popular Greek page Φυστίκι Που Κυλάει, it immediately caught my attention
A bilingual writer of children’s books?
Yes, tell me more! I’m interested!
Fast forward, a few days later, I was holding an amazing book in my hands:
Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? by Elisavet Arkolaki
A small moment that took me back to childhood
Before I even started reading it, it hit me hard emotionally just by opening the first page.
The reason is this:
This tiny little picture with the writing:
This book belongs to: ……….
It brought me back to my childhood when I was obsessed with writing my name in every book I owned.
Yes, I’ve been a bookworm from an early age and now I’m holding myself back from writing my name in a children’s book.
How weird might that be?
Or maybe not…?
The illustrations of Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From?
The second thing that caught my attention as I was flipping through its pages before diving into the story was the illustrations.
All pictures are actually graffiti created by Platon, and as I read in the book, most of them were painted with permission in public elementary schools in Athens, Greece.
How amazing is that?
A small taste of the story
The story follows children from different parts of the world who are all trying to answer the same question: Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From?
Each child answers the question and shares small clues about their country.
As the story unfolds, we travel to different places and meet children with different backgrounds, until the story gently leads us to a surprising and meaningful answer.
Kids will not only enjoy the story and expand their Greek–English vocabulary, but they will also think about identity, belonging, and the many places that can shape who they are.
Apart from the clear educational aspect, the story carries a beautiful message that can lead to meaningful discussions between you and kids.
I can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil the ending, but here’s a taste:
“But…it is California, USA, that I am from”, added Alice.
“I paddled and I paddled, I paddled alongside a clever mermaid to get here.
And here I am!”“Μα…εγώ είμαι από την Καλιφόρνια των Η.Π.Α.”, πρόσθεσε η Άλις.
“Έπλευσα κι έπλευσα κι έπλευσα, δίπλα σε μια έξυπνη γοργόνα, για να έρθω εδώ.
Και να με, ήρθα!”
Having English and Greek on the same page is a huge help for kids. They can instantly see how phrases work in both languages.
It’s no coincidence we see Alice in the sea with a mermaid.
Elisavet uses familiar elements from each child’s home country.
She also repeats the verb three times. This is something that can be very amusing to kids but at the same time it helps them remember the word. We see this repetition on every page.
Bilingual books like this one are a wonderful tool for children who are growing up with more than one language, as well as for kids who are learning a second language. Seeing the two languages side by side helps them naturally connect words and expressions while enjoying the story.
Questions like “Where am I from?” are not always simple to answer, and this book invites kids to think about identity, belonging, and the many places that can shape who we are.
Ideas for the classroom
The book Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? is perfect for curious kids aged 3 and up, but it’s also flexible enough to spark discussions in early elementary classrooms.
It has been used with second graders by Germaine Moran Koskina, PhD, Adjunct Professor and 2-Way Dual Language Bilingual Teacher. The BabyLab at the University of Plymouth (UK) has also explored her books during visits to schools, giving children a chance to enjoy them in a real classroom setting.
Teachers and parents can use the story to start conversations about identity, geography, and language.
Students can locate the countries mentioned in the book on a map, talk about where their own families come from, or even create their own “Where Am I From?” stories.
One simple, practical activity from the book is practicing a useful Greek question:
Από πού είσαι;
(apó poú íse?) – Where are you from?
For example:
– Είμαι από την Ελλάδα. (íme apó tin Elláda) – I’m from Greece.
– Είμαι από την Ιταλία. (íme apó tin Italía) – I’m from Italy.
This helps kids see language in action while exploring identity and culture in a fun way.
Learning about the story, practicing the language, and exploring different cultures naturally leads us to the person who brought all of this to life: the author, Elisavet Arkolaki.
About the Author
Elisavet Arkolaki is a multilingual children’s book author who creates bilingual stories for young readers around the world. Having lived in several countries and raising multilingual children herself, she is passionate about helping kids grow up between languages and cultures.
Her books focus on identity, family, and cultural understanding, and are available in dozens of language combinations to support bilingual learning. She has created several bilingual stories for children around the world.
Final thoughts on Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From?
If you’re looking for a gentle and meaningful way to introduce children to Greek through a bilingual Greek–English book and explore the world of Greek bilingual books for kids or for a thoughtful story for kids who are already learning Greek.
Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? is a beautiful little book to start with.
It combines storytelling, culture, and language in a way that can spark curiosity and meaningful conversations with kids.
If you’d like to take a closer look at the book, you can find it on Amazon for your region:
US:
Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? by Elisavet Arkolaki
UK:
Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? by Elisavet Arkolaki
Canada:
Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? by Elisavet Arkolaki
Australia:
Από πού είμαι; – Where Am I From? by Elisavet Arkolaki
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