Where am I from? - Da dove vengo?: An Italian English bilingual children's book (Italian edition)

by Elisavet Arkolaki, Martina Pelagallo (translator), Platon Street Artist (illustrator)

A high-quality bilingual children's story in Italian and English, ideal for bilingual families and kids who learn Italian or English as a second language. Martina Pelagallo, a professional translator with extensive experience translating movies, series, and books, including the children's book “Josh the Baby Otter”, translated it. The book has 32 pages per industry standards and 16-page spreads as an eBook on the Kindle app. Complimentary activities and lesson plans can be downloaded on the author's website.


The 1st edition, published in English in 2020, and endorsed by the Head of National Literacy Agency, MaltaSponsored and endorsed by the Libraries Counsellor, Vestfold Municipality, NorwaySponsored and endorsed by Malta Libraries, Malta
All the children of the world came together to solve the toughest riddle of them all. There can only be one answer to the “Where am I from?” A children’s book illustrated entirely with life-size spray paint graffiti, most of which have been painted with permission in public elementary schools in Athens, Greece.

Tutti i bambini del mondo si sono riuniti per risolvere l’indovinello più difficile di può esserci una risposta univoca alla domanda “da dove vengo?” Un libro per bambini interamente illustrato con graffiti a grandezza naturale realizzati, per la maggior parte, con il consenso delle scuole elementari pubbliche di Atene, in Grecia.



An ideal gift for bilingual kids raised with a global mindset. It's also a great addition to the libraries of children who learn English or Italian as a second language, Italian language teachers, librarians, and parents who raise bilingual and multilingual kids. Perfect for all children ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and up, depending on their fluency level in the target language.


Where am I from? is available in many more bilingual editions. If you're reading this on amazon.de/.co.uk/.ca/.au/.it, etc, visit the .com link for more reviews Please note that the story text in the bilingual editions is slightly different than the one in the 1st English edition, published in 2020.

Genres: Language, Picture Books

Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

About the author

Hi,

I’m Elisavet Arkolaki, it’s great connecting with you!

I’m a multilingual mom raising two beautiful, multilingual, and ethnically mixed children, and I’m a children’s book author, mainly writing and publishing bilingual books. I have lived in six countries and my home right now is in Norway.

Both my husband and I are passionate about traveling; inspired by global learning, we’re raising our own children in between countries, cultures, and languages. I write to build cultural understanding and sensitivity in young children while they are still eager to learn, and also help and support them in their bilingual journey. The bilingual books I've published are ideal for early readers: white background, large and easy-to-read fonts, the image on one page and the text on the other, etc. They're available in 50+ languages with progressively longer stories from one book to the other.

I have an academic background in foreign language teaching, translation, and marketing. I graduated from the University of Liverpool with a degree in Global Marketing (MSc), the University of Athens (EKΠΑ) with a degree in French Philology/Language and Literature (BA), and I was awarded a certificate of proficiency in English from the University of Cambridge. I speak four languages now at different levels of fluency.

I’m proud to volunteer as a PEaCH Ambassador. PEaCH is an Erasmus+ (EU) funded project that supports European families raising bilingual and multilingual children. PEaCH does this in the form of a handbook for parents, a handbook for educators, informative videos and an online collection of ready-to-use materials in the 24 official EU languages. On their YouTube channel you will find videos with narrations of my books in many languages.

To find fun and educational activities related to my books, subscribe to my newsletter (www.maltamum.com)

or join my private FB group "Elisavet Arkolaki’s Behind the Book Club" and head over to the "Files" section. You can also read on my blog, in full and for free, the guidebook "How to Raise Confident Multicultural Children".

You can get in touch by sending me an email at liza @ maltamum.com

Thank you.

*************************************************

Non-fiction books

How to Raise Confident Multicultural Children

A short love story for adults in a photo book format

Together They Blossomed

(It’s also available in bilingual editions in EN-FR, EN-ES, EN-IT and EN-GR).

Children’s books in English

Where am I from? (Faraxa Publishing, Malta, EU)

Sunny’s Magical Headband

Happiness Street

Cousins Forever

Nelly’s Box

Summer with Grandpa


Bilingual children’s books

Cousins Forever (50+ languages)

Happiness Street (45+ languages)

Nelly’s Box (30+ languages)

Summer with Grandpa (30+ languages)

Available languages:

• Afrikaans • Albanian • Arabic • Armenian • Basque • Bosnian • Bulgarian • Catalan • Chinese (Traditional & Simplified) • Croatian • Czech • Danish • Dutch • English • Estonian • Filipino / Tagalog • Finnish • French • Galician • Georgian • German • Greek • Hindi • Hebrew • Hungarian • Icelandic • Indonesian • Irish • Italian • Japanese • Korean • Latvian • Lithuanian • Macedonian • Malaysian • Maltese • Norwegian • Polish • Portuguese of Portugal • Brazilian Portuguese • Romanian • Russian • Serbian • Slovak • Slovene • Spanish • Swedish • Thai • Turkish • Ukrainian • Vietnamese • Welsh

Reviews

[Maureen Saguna]

I love the idea behind 'Where am I from?'. Not only does it answer children's most burning question, but it also manages to introduce different cultures and nationalities with the use of a few well-chosen sentences. The rhythm and repetition throughout will also make it a firm favourite with younger children (and the parents who will have to read it multiple times at bedtime)! This book is also special because of the original way in which it was illustrated. Using graffiti makes the illustrations interesting and shows how much thought and love were poured into this book.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read "Where am I from?" Beautiful story... I love the rhyme scheme and the pictures are fantastic - well done!! Such a simple idea, yet it really hit home.

[Claire Noland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of children come together wondering where they come from. Each child thinks they know. It is the country where they live. But how can that be since they each live in different places? From Malta to Australia, each child describes their mode of transportation which include swimming with a dolphin, flying on a dragon, and riding on a lion’s back. None of them, however, can agree on the one place they are all from until the youngest child reveals the answer.
The brilliant illustrations are a perfect match for the text as the author and illustrator worked together to create this stunning book. Amazingly, the illustrations are graffiti art painted on the walls of elementary schools.
Why this WHERE AM I FROM? should be added to your shelves:
o It includes a wonderful group of diverse children with mixed cultural and linguistic heritages.
o Each spread shows a child with a background setting and animals from their country of origin.
o The children travel to their destination in fabulous ways mixing fantasy with fact. Who
wouldn’t want to hop in a kangaroo’s pocket?
o The detailed graffiti illustrations will entice children to find new things with each rereading.
o This book will be a good addition to elementary school geography and social studies
curriculum and will encourage lively discussions.
o The text is lyrical and kid-friendly and perfect for emerging readers.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book! As the story goes, a diverse group of children gather round to solve the riddle of where we are from. However, none of the answers feel right until the last (and youngest) child speaks up. I won't spoil it for you, but this book is a beautiful reminder that we are all united and have more in common than we have different about each other. The text is simple but on point, and the themes of unity, love, friendship, and appreciating the diversity in our world leave the reader with a smile. The simple honesty of children really can give us so much wisdom when we listen.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the art. It's amazing! It was first done as building graffiti and then pictures were taken to form the art for the book. Platon, the artist, is very talented, and really brought this story to life.

Overall, this is a lovely book, and I recommend it.

[Χριστίνα Κωνσταντουδάκη · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book with a touching story, narrated in a simple language yet so beautifully done. Children from different cultures and countries gather together, and they try as a team to solve the riddle "Where am I from?''. The final and "correct" answer to the question as an epilogue, made me tear up.

The illustrations of the book are something totally new in publishing as they are real graffiti/murals that the artist painted with spray paint on the walls of schools. So, this book has been created and spread all over schools. How beautiful is that?

As a kindergarten teacher, I'm sure my students will love it. In fact, it inspired me to organize activities in order to teach them about the different countries of the world and where we all come from.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Answer is Not So Simple

This picture book starts with an image of children painting a graffiti mural of the world. As each ponders where they are all from, each assumes that they come from the same place—wherever the particular child talking is from. With this, the book goes around the world, visiting each place each child is from. It ends with the youngest among them seeing a commonality and sharing it with the group. Some places and how the child might have gotten from there to where they are now are a bit fanciful, which could be fun for a young child.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Mariabba · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really unique concept for a book. A book supported and created from its infancy by a large group of people around the world, illustrated entirely with spray paint murals, painted on the walls of schools. What a gift to the children who will see beautiful art when they go to school. The art is amazing and the story is so cute. The kids have their own unique way to see things straight and not overcomplicate notions the way adults do. Eric's answer to the question of where are you from is straight to the point.

[Chryssa Oikonomidou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book promoting kids’ intercultural competence. The reader follows a multicultural group of kids discussing their roots. Where are they from? The book answers this question in such a nice, real way: aren’t we all from the same place in the end of the day? I won’t spoil any further. Just read it. This book will warm your souls like a big hug. A must have for multicultural children, ideal for bilingual / trilingual families, expats, but not only. All kids should be in touch with these kind of messages, books, questions.

[Heather Kinser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this story makes us think about ethnic and regional origins in a fresh way. The cast of characters begins a gentle argument about where they are from. It seems each child has blinders on and can only view the question from their own perspective--until the youngest comes up with a universal answer that unites all children in a single origin story. A great choice for boosting a contemporary understanding that regional differences don’t matter as much as we might think, accompanied by fantastical graffiti artwork.

[Sharon Giltrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is an amazing book that shows children from all around the world. I love how the text and illustrations are matched with features from that country. Especially the page about Australia :-). The ending is very clever but I won't spoil it, but it leaves the reader with a very important message. The use of graffiti art for the illustrations is pioneering. A fantastic book for all the children and adults of the World.

[K.H.M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a book!

First of all, having bilingual kids who speak Norwegian, English and Albanian, I appreciate bilingual books because they give my kids valuable input in two different languages at the same time. Also, this story is relatable and beautifully written! The ending was both touching and thoughtful. I was astonished by the graffiti illustrations, which were beautiful and original to anything I’ve ever seen in a children’s book. This book is a treasure!

[Chiara Battistelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very original idea very well written and realised, with autentical pieces of art. I am sure all kids will love it; but it will also help and encourage parents around the world (in the many multicultural and travelling families nowadays exist) to answer this fundamental question, to their kids.

[Emma Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a striking and memorable book, with vibrant graffiti illustrations that take readers around the globe, and beautiful lyrical language throughout.

The book seeks to answer the titular question, "Where Am I From?", and does so beautifully - the perfect ending, which I won't give away, shows how we are all different and yet all the same as well.

[Nanette Heffernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Are All Connected. WHERE AM I FROM is a tender story that helps children feel connected, regardless of what their address is. It draws on many layers from a birth country, to nationality, to mothers, showing children we are all connected. Make sure to take a second and third read to appreciate the illustrations, which are all real graffiti murals…stunning.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique picture book uses real graffiti art to illustrate the diverse backgrounds of kids from around the world. I love the book's central premise -- that answering the question "Where am I from?" is not answered simply with a country name or language. There's a celebration of diversity here and also a message of unity -- ultimately we're all from the same place!

[Rania Dimitr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this amazing book , I tried to be in the position of the child who reads it, so I can judge it better...I was impressed both by the sensitive way of writing and graffiti work. And I was anxious to find out the answer...and the answer makes all things around us and our children so simple... I recommend to read this book to find out the answer. I believe children will love it.

[Aya Khalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book that explores the popular question "where are you from" from a child's perspective. I love the different countries mentioned in the book and the illustrations that go along. Adorable book that encourages exploring other cultures!

[Mary-Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book- the concept is wonderful and the illustrations are gorgeous- the colours are so intense which I love. What a great idea too - covering what makes us distinct and what unites us- great springboard for important discussions with children at home, at school, or at the local library.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read with your kids about where we all come from. Helpful to find out where we are from and talking with the kids. Great family book. Fun to read together. Wonderful illustrations.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kris Reguera · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful multiheritage story of real people!

I love the text both in Spanish and in English. As a multilingual, multicultural reader of children’s books, this one will stay with me, and is so well addressed to a younger audience.

[Angeliki Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea, the conception of the idea and the execution of the art are very unique, as unique as the children who are growing in poly-ethnic families in different countries.

[Nell Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reader is taken on a trip around the world with energetic visuals. I especially enjoyed the illustration imagining that inside a pregnant mom's belly is the whole universe.

[Jacky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It really answers where we are from

I love the take on what kids know about where we are from and the playfulness of this complex concept in such simple words. Super cute story!

[Jennifer Buchet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful set of stories that reveals our differences, yet similarities, a culturally progressive manner