Sunday 21 March 2021 17:00
Our Reading Club for young book lovers continues online in March, hosted by the author Tasoula Eptakoili.
The book that will inspire this meeting is A Case for Detective Cluj: The Nose of the Goddess, by Jürgen Banscherus.
Each month, thirty members between 7 and 10 years old get together to discover a new book! Our little readers will have the chance to share their impressions, feelings and thoughts, as well as to travel, using their imagination as the vehicle and the book of the month as their launch pad, into the exciting worlds that spring up from its pages.
The book and its author
Name: Cluj Occupation: student Hobby: private detective Passions: milk and chewing gum
All the world’s detectives dream of the opportunity of working in London, Paris or New York at least once in their lifetime. On the streets of these cities, evil lurks on every corner. A professional like Cluj would do very well over there. So how did he find himself, instead, chasing criminals in Athens? In a city where he can’t even read the street signs? Which case will he solve this time? Who will help him?
Nine-year-old Cluj, the hero of German author Jürgen Banscherus’ books, is just as good as any of the heroes in the classic crime novels. “The nose of the goddess” is the 28th book in the popular series, and the first taking place in Greece.
Jürgen Banscherus was born in Remscheid, Germany, in 1949 and wanted to become a pianist. He worked as a teacher and a journalist. In the meantime, however, he had started to write very popular children’s and teen books. His series “A case for detective Cluj” has been translated into 14 languages and sold almost two million copies worldwide. In 2006, he received the Hansjorg Martin Preis, the most prestigious German award for authors of children’s and youth crime literature, and in 2010 he was awarded the Annette von Droste-Hülshoff for his overall contribution to literature. The fact that he never became a pianist no longer upsets him at all! The German author is a frequent visitor to Greece. “Each time I visit your country, I am so motivated in my work that I struggle to put it into words. To me, children in Greece (and their parents) are the most enthusiastic audience in the worled,” he has said.
Tasoula Eptakoili was born in 1968 in Samos, and grew up in Piraeus. She graduated from the Faculty of Classics of the University of Athens, but chose journalism over teaching. She has worked on the radio (Melodia FM and now ATHINA 9.84), newspapers and magazines. From 2003, she has worked as a writer for "Kathimerini" newspaper. She has authored the books: "My other whole" (Patakis, 2016), a personal account of loss, the poetry collection "The woman in the elevator" (Kastaniotis, 2018), as well as "Gourgouris" (Patakis, 2017), "Garis" (Patakis, 2019) and "The Flowering Teapot" (Kastaniotis, 2019) - stories for children, but not only. She recently released another book, "Do you see me?" (Kastaniotis, 2020), which she co-authored with Psychology professor Foteini Tsalikoglou. She also curates and presents the TV show "Shots with tails", stories of animal love and human kindness, on ERT2. She lives in Athens.
Get ready for the Reading Club meeting
• What were Cluj’s impressions of Athens? Note down three phrases from his descriptions that you found interesting or fun. • Use five adjectives to describe Cluj. • Write a few words about the statue (or another exhibit) that you remember the most from visiting a museum or archaeological site. What is its story? Why is it your favorite? • Where do you dream of traveling? With whom? Why? Make a drawing so you can show the other members of the club and the hostess.
Reading Club: Children’s Literature Sunday 21/03, 17:00
Via Zoom
For children aged 7 to 10 years old Up to 30 children Free participation by online pre-registration
Pre-registration starts on Monday 01/03 at 12.00
Coordinator: Tasoula Eptakoili
To take part in the Reading Club, all registered participants are required to read the book of the month.
The “A case for detective Cluj” book series is published in Greek translation by Metaichmio Books.
