Multicultural Children's Book Day. #readyourworld
Celebrating Multicultural Children's Book Day 2023!
Book Review of 'Lucian's first dream. A journey to light.'
Written by Dr. Penny Hatziefstratiou Michelinaki
Illustrated by Myrto Delivoria
Private edition 2020, distribution by Ekdoseis Pataki
'A teacher assigned the class to write a dream they had at night. But Lucian is disappointed. He never dreams at night. "I don't even know what dreams are." His father reassures him. "Dreams are stories that our mind plays out while we sleep. Something like the movies," he told him. And Lucian is lucky enough to dream his own dream as long as he finds it . And the adventure begins. A journey full of light, shadows, lightnings, darkness, the colours of the rainbow, diffusion, refraction, transparency, new ideas and new questions about light and life itself...
It's my first time reviewing a book for Multicultural Children's Book Day... and I couldn't have been assigned with a better book... 'Lucian's first dream. A journey to light.' written by Dr. Penny Hatziefstratiou Michelinaki is a stunning book about light. It's a book about the magical world we live in and about ways to explore the magic ... Only Penny could have written such a book, Penny who holds a doctorate on light.. Ever since I read it I can't stop thinking about flashlights and games that I could and should play with my children... At the same time, it's a book about life and about the life skills we acquire when we realise we are our own light. Searching for our own light will help us dream our own dreams and set our own path in life... Children are never too young to learn this important lesson. I strongly recommend it! Penny, thank you..
Lucian 's story with the amazing illustration by Mirto Delivoria will help children, teachers and parents explore the world around them through play with light and shadows and magically enough discussions about life itself will emerge.. I 'm not aware of any other book that sets to do that ...'
Summary
Lucian wondered what it's like to have a dream. When he decides to look for his own dream, he sets out on a journey full of adventure! On this journey, Lucian discovers truths full of light, which in the end will help him find the way to his own dream...
A story about light and lighting that offers opportunities of self-acknowledgement and educational play!
Information
The above title has been approved (2022) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Youth of Cyprus for Primary Schools. The corresponding Greek title "To proto oneiro tou Foti. Ena taxidi sto fos", also approved by the Cypriot Ministry, was shortlisted in the Greek IBBY 2021 awards.
About the author
Penny holds a PhD and MSc in Light & Lighting and a certificate of theatrical play for kids. She has designed and developed "Penny's light seminar", a series of educational programs for children, that she presents in schools, museums, and other venues. She has also presented educational programs in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens and in non-profit organizations around Greece. She organizes International Drawing Contests for children, for the celebration of the International Day of Light, by UNESCO.
Educational ideas of how to use the book:
- Use a torch to discover light and darkness
- Play with shadows and make shapes
- Wear a blindfold and play with your friends to feel darkness
- Go outdoors and feel the sun, then draw shadows with chalk, check how shadows change in shape during the day
- Use a light table to play with light
- Use transparent paper and glue on windows to see coloured light
- Discuss about how light is generated
- Role playing: present a scenario or assign each student a role and allow them to think of how light can be used
- Discuss about dreams and how they can "light up" our world
Relevant links: