Ice Wonder – Sofianna Paidousi
Written by: Angelina Papathanasiou
The book by the author Sofiana Paidousi "Ice Wonder", is published by Ocelotos publications with illustrations by Penelope Lazari. It refers to school bullying.
Before I started reading the book, I read the Dalai Lama's quote in the book. "Don't let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace."
It is absolutely correct. But in practice, is it easy to apply this to a young child who experiences daily bullying at school by his classmates?
Through her fairy tale, the author touches on many issues. School bullying, diversity, parent-child relationships.
His father accompanies Ice Wonder to the first day of school. The school is huge and there are too many children. Everyone looks at him strangely, thinking at first that maybe they have brought a mascot for some celebration. When all the children enter the room, the Principal introduces the new member to them for the first time.
The hero of her story is Ice Wonder. A boy different, made of ice cream, unlike any other. Children at school are not easy to accept.
Every day he faces the teasing of his classmates because of his difference. But the situation will get worse when he is faced with Brad a big boy and his company.
This is a book that tries to put an end to school bullying. A phenomenon that has taken on large dimensions in the school community and with tragic consequences in several cases for the child victims.
The author, with the help of the experts in cyber security and electronic crimes who foreword her book (Emmanouil Sfakianakis and Kalliopi Ioannou), seeks to help children who face similar problems to her hero. It does not support the victim by criticizing the perpetrator.
What matters is that the child victims talk about what they experience. Not to be afraid or ashamed. To open their heart to someone worthy of their trust, so that an end can be put to their daily torment.
The kids meanwhile are laughing, while some girls are whispering to each other how cute she is. But when the Headmistress leaves, the boys start teasing him.
A book that gives us parents food for thought about the way we raise our children and the relationship we have with them.
Text editor: Zoi Tsoura
Source: Custodians Due to the Arts, September 2019
