The Town that Drove War out

Greek State Award

Children’s Book Award by the literature magazine "Diavazo" 

Best Illustrated Book Award by the Greek Graphic Design and Illustration Awards (ΕBGE)

White Ravens - Special mention 

Imagine a town that is different from all others, where the streets have a mind of their own, widening to allow school groups pass, rising to reach the top floors of high rise buildings and forming pretty shapes to greet airplanes flying overhead. Once you've wrapped your mind around that, it's easy to accept that the town also boasts a square where the obligatory statue of a general blushes and giggles when looked at as well as a park in which the trees tell stories and a post office that rewrites and readdresses letters according to the sender's true desires. What might such a charming, unworldly town do if its peace were threatened? Antonis Papatheodoulou demonstrates the advantages of an unconventional response in his picture book. War is on its way, in the form of an ambitious general, his troops, and their tanks, bringing the forces of order and armor to bear on the peaceful little town. As in any asymmetrical conflict, cunning may outwit might. Unlike many conflicts, this one is resolved without violence. The town doesn't merely resist being conquered; the town allows no war at all. Every time the general gives an order, the quirky infrastructure subverts his plans. The giggling statue spoils the parade in the round Piazza, while the fountain drenches general and troops alike when they move to the square Piazza. The trees lead the soldiers astray with their stories, the museum distorts the portraits of the general's heroes, and the post office transforms his declaration of war into a love letter to his wife. Without preaching, Papatheodoulou uses humour to demonstrate ways of defusing conflict. Young readers can use their own ideas when they use the separate cut-out section to create their version of a city that's different from all others. Illustrator Myrto Delivoria captures the faux-seriousness of the enterprise in a mixture of paint, pastels, and drawings on a crumpled brown paper background

Mr. War knows only one thing: how to spread fear. Still, unexpected reactions make him stumble. When he tries to attack the town, its streets play tricks on the tanks and airplanes; its trees in the park abduct the soldiers and lead them into dreamy fairy tales; fountains and statues show no respect towards Mr. War and his army; inside the museum, there is no space for humourless generals; and eventually, the post office deals him the final blow with a manipulated letter. The final brush strokes of the pictures show that nonviolence may prove worthwhile for Mr. War after all. Myrto Delivoria’s illustrations perfectly complement the magical and playful plot with vivid associations and surprise readers with an original and high-contrast play of colors and materials. Antonis Papatheodoulou’s text radiates poetic creativity and a positive attitude towards life. (Source: White Ravens)