Diamond Birthday

This book is written and painted by me, Ourania Kalampoka. The inspiration for this book was the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's diamond birthday on BBC. When I saw it, I said, "Here's a floating palace that slides in the river on top of a gray silk ribbon. Here's a modern fairy tale." I married the reality with the myth-the very much living Queen Elizabeth with the imaginary character of Grandmother Ruth. This is how I always worked with children of ages five to nine. Beyond design, color, perspective with children we created fairy tales, one of which was published.