Menu
Vicky: The idea grew from a childhood memory that deeply marked me: moving away and losing my neighborhood friends. I cannot remember the last game we played together.. Who really remembers the last time they played with their friends or the day that marked the end of their childhood? If we knew, wouldn’t we wish for ancora un giorno?
Elena: I was talking with Vicky when she asked me if I would like to create a book together, more specifically a silent book. I immediately said yes! She shared her idea with me and little by little it evolved and turned into images.
Vicky: “Ancora un giorno” tells the story of a girl who has already experienced her first painful goodbye, the loss of a parent. When she learns she must move away, she faces another separation, this time from her friends. Wanting to hold on to the world she knows, she plans one last game with them, transforming the last day into a tender farewell.
Elena: For me, this story is about friendship and about all the games children play at that age. The tree and the tree house are a real memory. So tender and full of adventure. It is also about saying goodbye, even when no one really wants to say it, so they ask for five more minutes, another hour, or just one more day.
Vicky: Because silent books give strength to children’s voices beyond language. This story speaks about loss, friendship and goodbye feelings every child understands. The contest felt like the right home for it.
Elena: For me it was a really big challenge. I had never worked on a book like this before, although I already loved silent books. Being in the wonderful position of being among the 16 finalists is already a great honour and a great joy.
Elena Tsaprounis is an illustrator and pediatric occupational therapist based in Greece, where she lives with her family. She illustrates books and also works on personal projects that explore visual storytelling and imaginative worlds, while collaborating with a growing network of creative partners and projects worldwide. Her work is filled with warmth, curiosity, and color. She enjoys experimenting with textures, techniques, and narrative elements to create illustrations that feel alive and meaningful.
Vicky Xanthopoulou is a kindergarten teacher, author, and PhD candidate in Linguistics with a Master’s in Sociocultural Education. A public educator in Greece since 2005, she created the award-winning reading program “Let’s Play Book”. She has received numerous global honors, including the “Global Teacher Award 2020” and the “Freedom through Literacy Award”. The author of ten educational books, Vicky also designs experiential seminars for educators and has shared her expertise as a TEDx and Delphi Economic Forum speaker.