Reimagined Greek Folktale

Loukas and the Game of Chance a reimagined Greek Folktale by Anthony L. Manna. Illustrated by Donald Babisch

“A splendid folktale that may appeal to fans of short stories and folklore.”
—Kirkus Reviews

SYNOPSIS-

While Loukas is playing his flute at the seawall one day, he befriends a mysterious talking, dancing snake that rewards him with fortune and favor. Some years later, tempted by greed and pride, Loukas loses all his riches and his family. He must now set off on a treacherous journey through a frightening forest filled with suspense and strange creatures to find Destiny, her son Ilion, the Sun, and her daughter Luna, the Moon. These celestial guardians will surely allow him to reverse his misfortune, restore his honor, and win back all that he loves and treasures, won’t they? 

A reimagined Greek folktale, Loukas and the Game of Chance is illuminated with dramatic and evocative pen and ink drawings that provide an ideal backdrop for the dark intrigue that fills this haunting story of human struggle, courage, and resilience. 

Author bio:

Anthony L. Manna draws on his experiences and passion as an award-winning educator of fifty years to inspire kids and teens to become confident, skilled, and happily motivated readers and writers. He has taught in schools and universities in Turkey, Greece, Albania, and the United States where he immersed kids, teens, and young adults in powerful multicultural books and entertaining, action-packed activities to help them enjoy the discoveries about themselves and others that great books and their own writing can encourage them to explore. Manna is the award-winning author of Mr. Semolina-Semolinus: A Greek Folktale, The Orphan: A Cinderella Story from Greece, and Greek Folktales: A Treasury of Delights. Loukas and the Game of Chance, a middle-grade fantasy, will be available in October, 2019, wherever books are sold. For more on Anthony and his work go to his About Anthony page.

Illustrator bio:

Donald Babisch is an artist and art educator focusing primarily on fiber art and mixed media. His work was recently exhibited at the Ashton Gallery in California and at the Crooked Tree Gallery in Michigan. An alumnus of New York University’s graduate Art Education Program, he is a former adjunct instructor in the Art Education Program at Youngstown University in Ohio. He has also taught art at all grade levels in public schools. His articles have appeared in several art education journals, and he wrote and illustrated Who is That Peeking in My Windows for beginning readers.