"A paean to children's imaginations and brotherly affection... 。
The two brothers turned their room into an adventure playground. They armed themselves with their imaginations and used items in the room to try to reach Pekfee, the land of freedom. The author created a journey through alternating narration, vivid dialogue, and lyrics, where the destination was not important, but the spirit of free adventure was.
The two children were twin brothers, who expressed their fear and insecurity, boldness and hesitation, emotions and ideas, all in the imaginative games they played in the half-lit room. The author highlighted the importance of unity and brotherhood, showing that the journey is only worthwhile when you learn to share and transcend yourself.
The language of the story is simple and engaging, just like the language of two children playing and sharing their spontaneous imaginations. It also has a sense of tension when the two brothers assume roles and experience emotions on a microscopic scale of a childhood journey.
I think the setting of the absent mother is important, as the two brothers feel more insecure in their tension and fear on the journey, and seek help from their mother. Her absence becomes a presence, reminding the children of the emotional safety and abundant strength that she represents, reminding them that she is here, there, everywhere, and always present. The mother can leave her own world and enter the children's world to share their imagination. Thus, through the unnamed things, we can reveal the important things, and reveal a firm attitude towards life, especially towards everyday life.
--Apostolos Pappos, elniplex

"A beautiful story with many wonderful hints, big or small."
--Anthoula Daniel, diastixo.gr

★The book won Greek IBBY Award!
★A paean to the imaginations and brotherhood of children.

We hold tight to the oars, always looking ahead… Eee op! Eee op!
If you want a better life,
come along, too, we’re headed right
across the way.
Deep in the ocean, two children on a boat: two brothers holding tight to the oars, always look-ing ahead. Time passes and the shore
is nowhere to be seen. Only the waves, the fear, the unknown. But Louk and Flip have each other; no matter what happens they are together. And they keep playing...

Maria Papayanni (Author)
She studied Greek Language and Literature and worked as a journalist in radio, television, newspapers, and magazines.
Her first book was published in 2001. Ever since she has devoted herself to writing stories, fairy tales, and novels. She loves magical, traditional tales and narrates them to children when she visits schools. She also loves theatre and has penned librettos and verses for musical theatre. Her first book, "Goodnight, Mama," was published in 2001, the same year her second child was born. Her books have enjoyed great success with children and have won numerous awards in Greece, including:
· In 2002, she co-authored "Catch them!" with Philippos Mandilaras, which won the Merit Award by the Greek section of IBBY.
· "As If By Magic" won Greek IBBY Award and the Diavazo Literary Magazine Award
· "The Lonesome Tree" won the State Prize and the Diavazo Literary Magazine Award.
"You Will Win Another Day" has been translated into multiple languages.
· She was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2020 and 2022.

After all, she believes that books have wings:
“Children know well that when the sentence Once upon a time is uttered the door opens to the place where anything may happen. And children need the world of imagination in order to understand everyday life and its difficulties.”

In her own words:
I was born in Larissa, under Mount Olympus, where the 12 gods of antiquity lived.
I grew up in a large family where everyone had the gift of telling stories. Not fairy tales, but everyday life stories, which were told over huge tables in the summer; stories would add taste in our life, the way salt and pepper add flavour to our food. I recall tears alternating with laughter. These stories seemed to me like miracles, because they could release great powers. I don’t mean to say that everyone in my family was a bit of a liar, but exaggeration was something common. That’s how I came to believe that in the quiet, provincial town where I was growing up anything could happen. Growing up, instead of confessing to myself that my family used to exaggerate, I chose to believe that we were ‘special’ and ‘unique’. And I also decided that this was the only way I could tolerate reality and put up with everyday difficulties. By making up stories…
With stories, I have always had a season ticket in my pocket which allowed me to freely come and go between everyday life and the land where… anything may happen.

Iris Samartzi (Illustrator)
She was born in Athens in 1979. She studied graphic and interior design, as well as children's art. Since 2004, she has been working as a children's book illustrator. She also taught art at preschools and elementary schools. As an illustrator, she has won various awards, including:
· "The Last Day" won The Compostela Prize in 2016.
· "Federico's Wonderful Time" won The Greek Book Award from IBBY in 2016.
· "Good Pirates, Bad Pirates" won The Greek Children's Picture Book Award and the IBBY Greek Picture Book Award in 2012.
· "The Bad Child" won The IBBY Greek Picture Book Award in 2015 for .
· "Odyssey" was included on the IBBY Honor List in 2014.
· She was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2020 and 2022