EGE AND ÁVRA

Two girls who reside in two different picturesque villages by the Aegean Sea forge a tentative friendship.

Ege, who’s Turkish, and Ávra, who’s Greek, wake ready to go fishing with their grandfathers. The mostly straightforward text declares that the girls come from different lands that “do not get along.” Still, there are plenty of parallels to ponder. Both girls are pale-skinned, dark-haired, and dark-eyed. Both grandfathers show their love with fond smiles and share philosophical observations. And when the two pairs cross paths in their fishing boats, both girls are initially suspicious of each other. Tangled lines lead to frustration and then laughter. The children exchange names, work together, and share a meal. Rendered in earthy tones, Tarcan’s digitally created illustrations have a folk-art feel. Sharp-eyed readers will notice that though Ege’s and Ávra’s communities look similar, one town includes a mosque, the other a church. Other details not included in the text add to the impression that Ege and Ávra have more in common than they might think. Greek and Turkish words and phrases add authentic flavor to the simply told narrative. In their backmatter, Mantikas and Büyükoral discuss the tension between their respective countries of origin, Greece and Turkey, and express their optimism for a future in which “the Aegean becomes a sea of peace.”

A low-key story that has much to offer thoughtful listeners with its hopeful glimpse of how age-old enmities might be mended.