Book Description
Here is a unique and wonderful book. PAH-MEH (Let's Go!) tells of the adventures of three Americans traveling in Greece. Loosely based on a trip the author took, in 1998, with her daughter and their neighbor's ten-year-old son, we are guided from the mid-west to Athens, parts of northern Greece, and two Greek islands. While the mother is not Greek, Alexandra, the daughter and narrator is, and she takes us into the homes of her Greek family. We share in the celebration of Greek Easter. We taste the foods and learn of traditions. Because this story is so real, the author chose to include real dialogue, which means many of the characters speak in Greek. The Greek is written in a simple phonetic method, which Alexandra explains to the readers in her preface. The English translation follows in parenthesis about 90% of the time. (Once and a while you are left to guess!) The book includes a 500 word glossary of Greek words at the end. The story is exciting and wide ranging. One day we are taken into the tomb of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, another time we are climbing straight up mountains on dirt roads under a hot sun with a broken motor bike. (It gets worse when the sun goes down!) While the story is full of adventure and new experiences it is also a story of people. In the tradition of books from decades past there is an underlying sense of character. The book, ostensibly for children, is more of a family story and makes for a great read-aloud. The vocabulary is expansive making it a 5th or 6th grade level story, but read aloud much younger children would enjoy it. Each chapter closes with a pen and pencil drawing done by the narrator.

From the Inside Flap
Trips to waterfalls and ancient tombs, tavli games, motorbike rides, mountain hikes, and ferry boat voyages fill the pages of this charming story narrated by the 10-year-old heroine, Alexandra Mavromatis. Hop on board with Alexandra, her mother, and Aaron (the neighbor BOY who her mother invited along) to ride cars, planes, boats and trains in an exciting circuit that starts in Milwaukee, WI, passes through Athens, Thessaloniki, Edessa, Paros, Ikaria and more. Get ready for lots of sights, sounds and tastes, two holidays, a little danger, a little grumbling, and a lot of fun.

About the Author
Robin Hathaway Rafaelidys spends every minute she possibly can traveling in Greece. Born in Madison, WI in 1953, she first set eyes on the Greek Isles at age 26. She met her husband, Theofilos Andreas Rafaelidys, on the island of Crete in 1981. When in America, she divides her time between parenting, catering, writing, and foisting Greek food and stories on her friends. PAH-MEH (Let’s Go!) is her first novel. ILLUSTRATOR’S BIO Stella Turner Ruth Rafaelidys was born on January 8, 1988, in Milwaukee, WI. She attended Elm Creative Arts Elementary School and Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts. In her early years she excelled in collage art, while currently her main medium is pencil. Stella has one brother named Telemachus Andreas, and a black and white cat named Oreo. When she is not traveling in Greece with her mother she likes to spend time with friends, play soccer and go to movies. This is her first published work.