Synopses & Reviews
Yanni and his donkey, Lamia, are a familiar sight on the streets of their small Greek village. Every morning they can be seen going from house to house collecting trash in an old wagon in need of new wheels. Before Yanni's father left to find work in Germany, he told Yanni to take care of his mother and to keep the family business going. Collecting trash is hard work, and the boys in the village make it even harder. Whenever they see Yanni and Lamia coming, they shout, "Ho, ho, your donkey's lame and Yanni Rubbish is your name!" Yanni tries his best to ignore the boys. Still, the words hurt, especially the unkind words about Lamia, whom he loves. there must be some way to stop the boys from teasing him. After talking things over with his mother, Yanni comes up with a wonderful plan. Shulamith Levey Oppenheim's warm-hearted and uplifting story is illustrated by Doug Chayka.
Review
"A resonant story unfolds quickly under Oppenheim's sure hand. . . . Well-told." --Kirkus Reviews
Review
"An accurate picture of life in a poor Greek community as well as a gentle lesson on teasing. . . . A story that is of value for its focus on the universal problem of teasing and its positive solution." --School Library Journal
About the Author
Shulamith Levey Oppenheim has written a number of highly praised books for children. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband, Felix.
Doug Chayka's work has received recognition from the Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles. He lives in Weedsport, New York.