A School Turned Upside Down

Melios the beetle turned himself upside down, rolling his mud ball. And how strange… when you’re upside down, you see more clearly… and you can discover so much. Where is the truth hidden? What is truly worth it? A tender fairy tale with powerful symbolism. For this book, the author was awarded the 2015 ‘Penelope Maximou’ Prize for a short-form narrative book for children by the Greek Children’s Book Circle.

Following the huge success of the book *Upside Down*, which introduced Melios to young readers, in Theodoros Papaioannou’s new book we meet the beloved beetle once again, facing a new challenge: His friend, Melani, is on the other side of the forest waiting for him, but to get there he has to cross the main road! How will he manage that? On his blue bike? On his purple scooter? With a parachute? On a magic carpet? Well, he’ll try them all! And even if he fails! You never know, perhaps luck is made of many failures... The book comes with a CD featuring songs written by Orestis Papaioannou especially for the book. To listen to a sample of the songs, click [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PxlrcOZDe4&feature;=youtu.be).

Melios and Melani wake up, emerge from their nests and together set off for a walk in the forest. The sound of water, the sweetness of sap, the colour of the sunset, the scent of flowers, even the chill of the snow—everything feels special when you share it with someone you love, together.

The first children’s book, illustrated and written by Iris Samartzi, speaks directly to children’s hearts and captures their endless desires. Dad, where are you? Come and play! I’d love to have a playground at home. Just for me and Dad. And a garden, and a treehouse, a library... a rainbow... How many things do we need to have a good time with our friends? [Read the information about the book being awarded the ‘2021 State Prize for Illustrated Children’s Books’.](https://ikarosbooks.gr/blog/to-kratiko-vravio-ikonografimenou-pedikou-vivliou-2021-stin-tata-tis-iridas-samartzi)

The award-winning author describes a different kind of school—a dream for every child—offering readers a fresh perspective on the role of the school and the relationship between child, teacher and parent. Proposing a different approach to what school should really be, Alkistis Halikia joins forces with Irida Samartzi, and together the two creators envision a school that will unleash children’s imagination and form the vibrant heart of every member’s daily life, in a celebration of knowledge and freedom for all.

In 2014 we met... Melios Upside Down, a beetle with a sensitive soul and a taste for adventure! Anapoda brought us Apenanti and Antama, the award-winning trilogy by Thodoris Papaioannou, illustrated by Irini Samartzi, and since then Melios has become the favourite beetle of young and old alike. Children met Melios and his friends at their schools, in bookshops, libraries and festivals, and the journey they embarked on with him was thrilling. In 2024, Melios turns 10! It is with great joy that we celebrate his birthday with an anniversary book full of games and activities from his tender world. We’ll need imagination, curiosity and plenty of enthusiasm for play!

Through his camera lens, Antonis Papatheodoulou captures love and imagination, ideas and melody, and what your neighbourhood looked like in Ancient Athens! The world of Let’s See is wonderfully colourful, original and funny. His cameras have the power to capture not only images, but also emotions, memories, ideas and the whole marvellous and precious world that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Iris Samartzi’s illustrations, full of humour and adventure, wonderfully bring the stories of the cameras to life. Let’s See is a subversive and sweet exploration of the imagination.

Melios the beetle turned himself upside down, rolling his mud ball. And how strange… when you’re upside down, you see more clearly… and you can discover so much. Where is the truth hidden? What is truly worth it? A tender fairy tale with powerful symbolism. For this book, the author was awarded the 2015 ‘Penelope Maximou’ Prize for a short-form narrative book for children by the Greek Children’s Book Circle.

Silan has arrived in his new homeland. Every morning, he leaves the reception centre and goes to school, taking his box with him. He has a wonderful time there: he plays with the other children, draws, learns music, but he does not reveal to his classmates – however much they insist – what is inside his box. When, at the end of the story, its contents are revealed, Silan’s friends – and the book’s readers – will feel deeply moved and take great joy in it. A book by two award-winning authors that tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time with great sensitivity and tenderness, leaving a sweet sense of optimism.

Matu lives in Pigium, just outside Paris, with her family. She walks to and from school every day, and one day she notices a huge pile of shoes outside the town’s mosque. Matu invents her own new game, trying on a different pair every day. Through this experiment, she will learn and begin to understand what it is like to step into someone else’s shoes, and sometimes even take their place. A tender book about empathy and mutual understanding by the author of *Silan’s Box*, with distinctive illustrations by Fotini Tikkou, marking the start of her collaboration with Ikaros Publications.

The award-winning author describes a different kind of school—a dream for every child—offering readers a fresh perspective on the role of the school and the relationship between child, teacher and parent. Proposing a different approach to what school should really be, Alkistis Halikia joins forces with Irida Samartzi, and together the two creators envision a school that will unleash children’s imagination and form the vibrant heart of every member’s daily life, in a celebration of knowledge and freedom for all.

In her new book, Alkistis Halikia breaks away from the short form and presents us with a full-length story: Angelos moves with his parents to a mountain village far from the city. There, he discovers a different kind of school, explores nature and makes new friends. Life in the mountains is a bit like a ‘power cut’ – thrilling! The book is illustrated by Maria Bacha and comes with a music CD featuring fourteen songs with lyrics by Alkistis Chalikia and music by Melpo Chalkoutsaki and Petros Stamelos. Special guests: Vangelis Germanos, Fotis Siotas & ‘Ekto Trochias’. Listen to four songs included on the book’s CD: -[Refuge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxCt4xAj1Xo) -[Friends with Nature](https://youtu.be/MBaKSIT_PFE) -[Little Motor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpjHRGQh0gI) -[The Monster](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEzTf7OctxM&list;=PLar_r2024jLxCbJnAQtI8jaShROFJ2gJZ&index;=1)

Summer is over, but Danae wants to keep it close to her a little longer. Along with it, the walks with Spyros, the dips in the sea with her friends, the evenings at the open-air cinema. And she finds a brilliant way to keep August going all year round! Between the two children, Danae and Spyros, a different, unfamiliar feeling is born, one that might be called friendship or love, and which Alkistis Halikia narrates in a unique way. From the blue of the sea to the orange of the sunset, Achilleas Razis’s illustrations create an unforgettable August and a sweet anticipation of next summer.