Holiday magic made an early appearance at ACS Athens this week as we welcomed Greek children’s book author Alina Ioannou to the Elementary School Library for a special reading organized as part of our Greek Language and Literature Division.

Ms. Ioannou, a parent at ACS Athens and spouse of an alumnus, met with students in Grades 1 and 2 to share her book “Spinny Caused the Christmas Tree to Fall Over” (Ο Σβούρας έριξε το χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο), which is published only in Greek. The story follows Spinny, a young squirrel who learns important lessons about responsibility, kindness, and making things right after a holiday mishap.

Students were excited to see Spinny “joining” the event and helping bring the story even more vividly to life. As Ms. Ioannou presented the story, the young audience listened with enthusiasm, connecting with its message about learning from our mistakes and caring for others.

After the reading, students created drawings inspired by the book’s themes, and to make the visit even more memorable, Ms. Ioannou gave each child a set of Spinny-themed stickers, adding a joyful finishing touch to the experience.

We extend our sincere thanks to Ms. Ioannou for enriching our literacy efforts through her visit as part of the Greek Language Program. Her presence brought warmth, inspiration, and an early spark of festive cheer to our school community.