"Everything starts with this little word, half" February 6, 2020 – Posted in: Books

For Wolfie. Half Wolf, Half Sheep, One Heart by Alex Latimer

by the author of children's books Lila Patroklou

It all starts with this little word, half. Half of one half of the other, but in the end one whole. I liked this story as soon as I opened the book and read two or three sentences. We worked on it with the children of the two Children's Reading Clubs and had a lot to say. Too many.

 One half is a she-wolf (the wild part is female), while the other half is a sheep (the tame part is male). The two pieces join together and become a heart. Wolfie. That's what love does. It unites. And he forgets about the problems that may arise. Wolfie's parents faced all the problems created in the flock of sheep and the pack of wolves and emerged victorious from all the battles they fought. Always together and always loved.

But Wolfie? How to live and grow without a support group?. His parents are not enough. He needs the acceptance of the society he lives in and integration into it. No one wants him, neither one nor the other. And he tries so hard. He does everything to be accepted, but he doesn't succeed.

When he stopped pretending, and trying desperately to be like others, came loneliness, heartbreak and sadness. Slowly he began to accept himself, exactly as he is, and then it was easier to find creatures like him. Fifty-fifty. Like the horsefly, the bullfrog and the catfish and live happily ever after.

Excellent story!

THE Lila Patroklou is a children's book author. He has created and coordinates four Children's Reading Clubs, as well as one for Teenagers and one for Adults, always with the subject of children's and youth literature. In 2018 he was honored with the award "Lesson of life". This specific award is given to personalities from vulnerable social groups who go beyond "I" and volunteer to "us", a valuable and timeless work, contributing to the social regeneration of the place, while they are an example to follow. Participate in the program "Places of culture and access» and collaborates with museums to better serve visitors with disabilities. He holds seminars for kindergarten teachers and teachers on "Acquainting children with the image and idea of disability» and at the same time, he visits elementary schools with the aim of preparing the students for inclusion in the class of children with disabilities.