The Flight from Pompeii

Xenos is a Greek boy who has lived in Pompeii since he was kidnapped and sold as a slave. One day he gets the opportunity to run away and go back to Greece. His flight takes him to Rome amidst the magnificent palaces and monuments of the Empire. Again he is sold as a slave to a company of actors performing in Ostia, which is the port of Rome. Here he meets a friend of his father, who is searching for him. But the journey home is not easy...
Besides the story you will find lots of information on: The daily life of the Romans in Pompeii, Rome and Ostia.


About the Author - Irene Stellingwerff


All the children's books of the series 'Educative Look at Art Books' are written and illustrated by me, Irene Stellingwerff. I was born in the Netherlands, but by now I have spent half my lifetime in Italy, where I arrived in 1983, immediately after graduation in a Dutch Academy of Art. My studies made me a sculptor, and that art still exists in one of my dreamboxes for future development. After a year spent in an artist's village in the mountains near Tivoli (Rome) and various small jobs, I found my way as a graphic designer. During 12 years I've been busy making travel brochures, flyers, papers and many usefull and useless publications. In 1990 I also became an official tour guide for Rome, so I often have a nice time showing the beauties of Rome to visitors. It was this work of telling stories on history and art that made me decide to use my profession of graphic designer to produce my own children's books on art and historical places.

The pages of my books are made up of reproductions and photos, mixed up, cut out and overpainted with figures, just until they form the right stage for telling the tale. A real pastiche.

I tell unusual and playful stories to make it easier for the reader to assimilate the subject of the book. I couldn't do all of this without the help and collaboration of Saverio Capo, the other half of Comosavona.


About the Editor - COMOSAVONA


We make books for children where the images have an important function in creating the stage for the story. Stories in which time is often a flexible idea through which the characters (artists or historical sites) are actual.
The images that illustrate these books are often reproductions of more or less well known artworks, modified, integrated with particulars of other sources, colored, redesigned and changed according to the story. Their function is to make the story more alive and also to make the children familiar with paintings, sculptures and monuments that they might get to know later on in their life. In the cover there is additional information on the city or museum where they can find the original artwork.
Besides the story there is a lot of useful information on the life of the artist, the construction, the art of painting or sculpturing, or the historical period. The books have a glossary to explain difficult or strange words. This verified and accurately researched information can be a helpful instrument.