Tasso

Gr 1–3—Written and illustrated by a renowned cartoonist in the mid-1960s, this book transports readers to the Greek islands, where money is scarce but hard work is usually valued. In the center of a fishing village is the Trocadero café, where young Tasso plays his bouzouki for many adoring fans while his sister Athena serves them food. When the owner of the café grows impatient with Tasso and the breaks he needs in order to perform, he replaces him with a "Rock-a-Rola machine" that can play tunes nonstop. At first the machine brings great joy to everyone in the village. However, soon the loud music becomes tiresome. In the end, the simplicity of human interaction and form wins out over new technology. This tale is illustrated with Papas's bright, incredibly detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor depictions of life from a different time. Although the message might seem timeless to adults, the length of the book and the language will make it hard for younger readers to follow along.