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Meli & Mac: Rendez-vous with a Flamingo
"It's expedition o'clock!" cries Mac, putting down his French book. "Expedition Supervisor ready!" replies his sister, Meli. Adventure isn't far away when they stumble across a lost flamingo who speaks French. Can they help Freddie find his way to the flamingo festival of the year?
Join Meli and Mac for some flamingo fun in Serendipity Forest - and use the translation guide to learn a little French along the way!
Get ready for an expedition of a lifetime with the first book in the Meli & Mac series! This fully illustrated children's picture book is packed with magic gadgets, adventure and entertaining characters. The book is written in English but includes a basic introduction to French words and phrases. No background in French is required. The book can be read to younger children following along with the beautiful illustrations and can later be used as a first reader once the child starts reading. The book encourages children to learn new things and embrace people from different backgrounds. The book was selected and exhibited at the Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Italy and at the 19th annual international Book Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece both in 2023. It was first published in the UK in November 2023.
Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo was featured on BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire in 2023.
Join Meli and Mac for some flamingo fun in Serendipity Forest - and use the translation guide to learn a little French along the way!
Get ready for an expedition of a lifetime with the first book in the Meli & Mac series! This fully illustrated children's picture book is packed with magic gadgets, adventure and entertaining characters. The book is written in English but includes a basic introduction to French words and phrases. No background in French is required. The book can be read to younger children following along with the beautiful illustrations and can later be used as a first reader once the child starts reading. The book encourages children to learn new things and embrace people from different backgrounds. The book was selected and exhibited at the Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Italy and at the 19th annual international Book Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece both in 2023. It was first published in the UK in November 2023.
Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo was featured on BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire in 2023.
32 pages, Perfect Paperback
Published November 14, 2023
About the author
Elena Joannides
1 book2 followersElena is a children’s book author. She grew up in Buckinghamshire before moving to London for her studies.
Since childhood, she has been fascinated by Greek mythology and has been writing stories as far back as she can remember – no, not all the way back to the days of Homer! Growing up bilingual, Elena has always had a genuine love of languages and a fervour for exploring new places.
She is the creator of the picture book series entitled Meli & Mac, chronicling the escapades of an endearing sibling duo. The debut instalment, Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo, marks the beginning of the series with more expeditions on the horizon.
Elena is passionate about encouraging children to engage with the outside world, use their imagination and learn something new through beautifully illustrated adventures. She likes to write stories with quirky characters and to give children (and their parents!) a chuckle along the way.
Since childhood, she has been fascinated by Greek mythology and has been writing stories as far back as she can remember – no, not all the way back to the days of Homer! Growing up bilingual, Elena has always had a genuine love of languages and a fervour for exploring new places.
She is the creator of the picture book series entitled Meli & Mac, chronicling the escapades of an endearing sibling duo. The debut instalment, Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo, marks the beginning of the series with more expeditions on the horizon.
Elena is passionate about encouraging children to engage with the outside world, use their imagination and learn something new through beautifully illustrated adventures. She likes to write stories with quirky characters and to give children (and their parents!) a chuckle along the way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 25, 2024
Meli and her brother Mac are about to embark on an expedition when they meet a flamingo who has lost his way. He is seeking the Shrimp Extravaganza and they help him. Mac has a magical bag that contains all sorts of items to assist them in their quest. Along the way, learn some French expressions as well as find out how flamingos get and retain their color!
This is a sweet book and a fun way to introduce children to some of the French language. Of course, the adult reading it aloud will have to know (or look up) how to pronounce the French words! There are some additional French expressions at the end. It is a colorful book, beautifully illustrated.
Thanks to #netgalley and @literallypr for the digital copy.
This is a sweet book and a fun way to introduce children to some of the French language. Of course, the adult reading it aloud will have to know (or look up) how to pronounce the French words! There are some additional French expressions at the end. It is a colorful book, beautifully illustrated.
Thanks to #netgalley and @literallypr for the digital copy.
June 11, 2024
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Meli & Mac' by Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende.
What an absolutely fun, funny, educational and brilliantly illustrated children's book!! It is a fantastic story which is perfect to read all year around! Not only does this brilliant book contain a fun story about two children called Meli & Mac helping a flamingo called Freddie to find his way to the flamingo festival of the year but it is filled with some great French words and sentences for your child to learn!! Scattered throughout the book are some French phrases such as 'Hello', 'My name is..' and 'How are you?' to name a few and at the bottom of the book is the translation to those words. Not only that but when you get to the end of this lovely story the back 2 pages teaches your child many more French words and phrases from greetings to asking how someone feels and answering to family members and some words such as book, tree and bird!! I absolutely love any books that help children to learn and this one is such a brilliant one as it has been done in a fun filled way so an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elena and Margherita for coming up with this idea and creating this brilliant children's story!! It is not just French that the reader learns though as you also find out why flamingos are pink!! It is written in a way that is easy for children and adults to read and myself, my 11 year old son Malaki and 6 year old twins hunter and Ryder all took it in turns to read a page. We had loads of fun naming all the different things that the children could see in the photos and naming all the colours as well as having fun learning French. Malaki especially loved learning new words and phrases and is excited to go to school tomorrow to show off what he has learnt! It truly is an amazing and fantastic book and I would say it is suitable for any child from the age of baby - 8 years above. This book is lovely and short and can be a quick read or be made into a fun long read whichever the reader wishes. The font is a nice style and size making it easy for adults and children to see and read too which is definitely a bonus as I have struggled with some fonts that authors have used in children's books in the past. We all loved the absolutely brilliant illustrations on each and every page which were colourful and eye catching!!! We read the paperback version of this book and I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book for the kids as it is absolutely brilliant quality and the kids will love flipping through the pages and looking back and forth at the pictures!! It would be a perfect book for children to be read to by their teachers in school as well as friends and family members. Let your children's imaginations come alive with this fantastic book which teaches them a new language while enjoying a good story!!. I really cannot wait to read more books by the very talented Elena and Margherita to my children (and for myself) and hope that they are busy writing the next one already!
My 11 year old son Malaki had this to say about this book:
I really liked reading this book by Elena and Margherita. the story was loads of fun and I enjoyed reading it to Hunter and Ryder but my favourite thing is that I have learn loads of new French words which I am looking forward to teaching my friends in school tomorrow and showing my teacher. I am going to secondary school this year and am hoping to learn French, this is definitely a good start!
Congratulations Elena and Margherita on writing an absolutely absolutely fantastic and educational children's book filled with brilliant illustrations!! Here is to your next success 🥂 that we are all looking forward to seeing and reading!
Overall a fantastically illustrated, fun and educational children's book that i would highly recommend to all children and parents!
#MeliAndMac #ElenaJoannides #MargheritaEnde #mythikopress #mythiko #LiterallyPR
@ElenaJoannides @MargheritaEnde @mythikopress @mythiko @LiterallyPR
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Review for 'Meli & Mac' by Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende.
What an absolutely fun, funny, educational and brilliantly illustrated children's book!! It is a fantastic story which is perfect to read all year around! Not only does this brilliant book contain a fun story about two children called Meli & Mac helping a flamingo called Freddie to find his way to the flamingo festival of the year but it is filled with some great French words and sentences for your child to learn!! Scattered throughout the book are some French phrases such as 'Hello', 'My name is..' and 'How are you?' to name a few and at the bottom of the book is the translation to those words. Not only that but when you get to the end of this lovely story the back 2 pages teaches your child many more French words and phrases from greetings to asking how someone feels and answering to family members and some words such as book, tree and bird!! I absolutely love any books that help children to learn and this one is such a brilliant one as it has been done in a fun filled way so an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elena and Margherita for coming up with this idea and creating this brilliant children's story!! It is not just French that the reader learns though as you also find out why flamingos are pink!! It is written in a way that is easy for children and adults to read and myself, my 11 year old son Malaki and 6 year old twins hunter and Ryder all took it in turns to read a page. We had loads of fun naming all the different things that the children could see in the photos and naming all the colours as well as having fun learning French. Malaki especially loved learning new words and phrases and is excited to go to school tomorrow to show off what he has learnt! It truly is an amazing and fantastic book and I would say it is suitable for any child from the age of baby - 8 years above. This book is lovely and short and can be a quick read or be made into a fun long read whichever the reader wishes. The font is a nice style and size making it easy for adults and children to see and read too which is definitely a bonus as I have struggled with some fonts that authors have used in children's books in the past. We all loved the absolutely brilliant illustrations on each and every page which were colourful and eye catching!!! We read the paperback version of this book and I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book for the kids as it is absolutely brilliant quality and the kids will love flipping through the pages and looking back and forth at the pictures!! It would be a perfect book for children to be read to by their teachers in school as well as friends and family members. Let your children's imaginations come alive with this fantastic book which teaches them a new language while enjoying a good story!!. I really cannot wait to read more books by the very talented Elena and Margherita to my children (and for myself) and hope that they are busy writing the next one already!
My 11 year old son Malaki had this to say about this book:
I really liked reading this book by Elena and Margherita. the story was loads of fun and I enjoyed reading it to Hunter and Ryder but my favourite thing is that I have learn loads of new French words which I am looking forward to teaching my friends in school tomorrow and showing my teacher. I am going to secondary school this year and am hoping to learn French, this is definitely a good start!
Congratulations Elena and Margherita on writing an absolutely absolutely fantastic and educational children's book filled with brilliant illustrations!! Here is to your next success 🥂 that we are all looking forward to seeing and reading!
Overall a fantastically illustrated, fun and educational children's book that i would highly recommend to all children and parents!
#MeliAndMac #ElenaJoannides #MargheritaEnde #mythikopress #mythiko #LiterallyPR
@ElenaJoannides @MargheritaEnde @mythikopress @mythiko @LiterallyPR
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June 11, 2024
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Meli & Mac' by Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende.
What an absolutely fun, funny, educational and brilliantly illustrated children's book!! It is a fantastic story which is perfect to read all year around! Not only does this brilliant book contain a fun story about two children called Meli & Mac helping a flamingo called Freddie to find his way to the flamingo festival of the year but it is filled with some great French words and sentences for your child to learn!! Scattered throughout the book are some French phrases such as 'Hello', 'My name is..' and 'How are you?' to name a few and at the bottom of the book is the translation to those words. Not only that but when you get to the end of this lovely story the back 2 pages teaches your child many more French words and phrases from greetings to asking how someone feels and answering to family members and some words such as book, tree and bird!! I absolutely love any books that help children to learn and this one is such a brilliant one as it has been done in a fun filled way so an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elena and Margherita for coming up with this idea and creating this brilliant children's story!! It is not just French that the reader learns though as you also find out why flamingos are pink!! It is written in a way that is easy for children and adults to read and myself, my 11 year old son Malaki and 6 year old twins hunter and Ryder all took it in turns to read a page. We had loads of fun naming all the different things that the children could see in the photos and naming all the colours as well as having fun learning French. Malaki especially loved learning new words and phrases and is excited to go to school tomorrow to show off what he has learnt! It truly is an amazing and fantastic book and I would say it is suitable for any child from the age of baby - 8 years above. This book is lovely and short and can be a quick read or be made into a fun long read whichever the reader wishes. The font is a nice style and size making it easy for adults and children to see and read too which is definitely a bonus as I have struggled with some fonts that authors have used in children's books in the past. We all loved the absolutely brilliant illustrations on each and every page which were colourful and eye catching!!! We read the paperback version of this book and I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book for the kids as it is absolutely brilliant quality and the kids will love flipping through the pages and looking back and forth at the pictures!! It would be a perfect book for children to be read to by their teachers in school as well as friends and family members. Let your children's imaginations come alive with this fantastic book which teaches them a new language while enjoying a good story!!. I really cannot wait to read more books by the very talented Elena and Margherita to my children (and for myself) and hope that they are busy writing the next one already!
My 11 year old son Malaki had this to say about this book:
I really liked reading this book by Elena and Margherita. the story was loads of fun and I enjoyed reading it to Hunter and Ryder but my favourite thing is that I have learn loads of new French words which I am looking forward to teaching my friends in school tomorrow and showing my teacher. I am going to secondary school this year and am hoping to learn French, this is definitely a good start!
Congratulations Elena and Margherita on writing an absolutely absolutely fantastic and educational children's book filled with brilliant illustrations!! Here is to your next success 🥂 that we are all looking forward to seeing and reading!
Overall a fantastically illustrated, fun and educational children's book that i would highly recommend to all children and parents!
#MeliAndMac #ElenaJoannides #MargheritaEnde #mythikopress #mythiko #LiterallyPR
@ElenaJoannides @MargheritaEnde @mythikopress @mythiko @LiterallyPR
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Review for 'Meli & Mac' by Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende.
What an absolutely fun, funny, educational and brilliantly illustrated children's book!! It is a fantastic story which is perfect to read all year around! Not only does this brilliant book contain a fun story about two children called Meli & Mac helping a flamingo called Freddie to find his way to the flamingo festival of the year but it is filled with some great French words and sentences for your child to learn!! Scattered throughout the book are some French phrases such as 'Hello', 'My name is..' and 'How are you?' to name a few and at the bottom of the book is the translation to those words. Not only that but when you get to the end of this lovely story the back 2 pages teaches your child many more French words and phrases from greetings to asking how someone feels and answering to family members and some words such as book, tree and bird!! I absolutely love any books that help children to learn and this one is such a brilliant one as it has been done in a fun filled way so an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elena and Margherita for coming up with this idea and creating this brilliant children's story!! It is not just French that the reader learns though as you also find out why flamingos are pink!! It is written in a way that is easy for children and adults to read and myself, my 11 year old son Malaki and 6 year old twins hunter and Ryder all took it in turns to read a page. We had loads of fun naming all the different things that the children could see in the photos and naming all the colours as well as having fun learning French. Malaki especially loved learning new words and phrases and is excited to go to school tomorrow to show off what he has learnt! It truly is an amazing and fantastic book and I would say it is suitable for any child from the age of baby - 8 years above. This book is lovely and short and can be a quick read or be made into a fun long read whichever the reader wishes. The font is a nice style and size making it easy for adults and children to see and read too which is definitely a bonus as I have struggled with some fonts that authors have used in children's books in the past. We all loved the absolutely brilliant illustrations on each and every page which were colourful and eye catching!!! We read the paperback version of this book and I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book for the kids as it is absolutely brilliant quality and the kids will love flipping through the pages and looking back and forth at the pictures!! It would be a perfect book for children to be read to by their teachers in school as well as friends and family members. Let your children's imaginations come alive with this fantastic book which teaches them a new language while enjoying a good story!!. I really cannot wait to read more books by the very talented Elena and Margherita to my children (and for myself) and hope that they are busy writing the next one already!
My 11 year old son Malaki had this to say about this book:
I really liked reading this book by Elena and Margherita. the story was loads of fun and I enjoyed reading it to Hunter and Ryder but my favourite thing is that I have learn loads of new French words which I am looking forward to teaching my friends in school tomorrow and showing my teacher. I am going to secondary school this year and am hoping to learn French, this is definitely a good start!
Congratulations Elena and Margherita on writing an absolutely absolutely fantastic and educational children's book filled with brilliant illustrations!! Here is to your next success 🥂 that we are all looking forward to seeing and reading!
Overall a fantastically illustrated, fun and educational children's book that i would highly recommend to all children and parents!
#MeliAndMac #ElenaJoannides #MargheritaEnde #mythikopress #mythiko #LiterallyPR
@ElenaJoannides @MargheritaEnde @mythikopress @mythiko @LiterallyPR
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June 11, 2024
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Meli & Mac' by Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende.
What an absolutely fun, funny, educational and brilliantly illustrated children's book!! It is a fantastic story which is perfect to read all year around! Not only does this brilliant book contain a fun story about two children called Meli & Mac helping a flamingo called Freddie to find his way to the flamingo festival of the year but it is filled with some great French words and sentences for your child to learn!! Scattered throughout the book are some French phrases such as 'Hello', 'My name is..' and 'How are you?' to name a few and at the bottom of the book is the translation to those words. Not only that but when you get to the end of this lovely story the back 2 pages teaches your child many more French words and phrases from greetings to asking how someone feels and answering to family members and some words such as book, tree and bird!! I absolutely love any books that help children to learn and this one is such a brilliant one as it has been done in a fun filled way so an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elena and Margherita for coming up with this idea and creating this brilliant children's story!! It is not just French that the reader learns though as you also find out why flamingos are pink!! It is written in a way that is easy for children and adults to read and myself, my 11 year old son Malaki and 6 year old twins hunter and Ryder all took it in turns to read a page. We had loads of fun naming all the different things that the children could see in the photos and naming all the colours as well as having fun learning French. Malaki especially loved learning new words and phrases and is excited to go to school tomorrow to show off what he has learnt! It truly is an amazing and fantastic book and I would say it is suitable for any child from the age of baby - 8 years above. This book is lovely and short and can be a quick read or be made into a fun long read whichever the reader wishes. The font is a nice style and size making it easy for adults and children to see and read too which is definitely a bonus as I have struggled with some fonts that authors have used in children's books in the past. We all loved the absolutely brilliant illustrations on each and every page which were colourful and eye catching!!! We read the paperback version of this book and I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book for the kids as it is absolutely brilliant quality and the kids will love flipping through the pages and looking back and forth at the pictures!! It would be a perfect book for children to be read to by their teachers in school as well as friends and family members. Let your children's imaginations come alive with this fantastic book which teaches them a new language while enjoying a good story!!. I really cannot wait to read more books by the very talented Elena and Margherita to my children (and for myself) and hope that they are busy writing the next one already!
My 11 year old son Malaki had this to say about this book:
I really liked reading this book by Elena and Margherita. the story was loads of fun and I enjoyed reading it to Hunter and Ryder but my favourite thing is that I have learn loads of new French words which I am looking forward to teaching my friends in school tomorrow and showing my teacher. I am going to secondary school this year and am hoping to learn French, this is definitely a good start!
Congratulations Elena and Margherita on writing an absolutely absolutely fantastic and educational children's book filled with brilliant illustrations!! Here is to your next success 🥂 that we are all looking forward to seeing and reading!
Overall a fantastically illustrated, fun and educational children's book that i would highly recommend to all children and parents!
#MeliAndMac #ElenaJoannides #MargheritaEnde #mythikopress #mythiko #LiterallyPR
@ElenaJoannides @MargheritaEnde @mythikopress @mythiko @LiterallyPR
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Review for 'Meli & Mac' by Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende.
What an absolutely fun, funny, educational and brilliantly illustrated children's book!! It is a fantastic story which is perfect to read all year around! Not only does this brilliant book contain a fun story about two children called Meli & Mac helping a flamingo called Freddie to find his way to the flamingo festival of the year but it is filled with some great French words and sentences for your child to learn!! Scattered throughout the book are some French phrases such as 'Hello', 'My name is..' and 'How are you?' to name a few and at the bottom of the book is the translation to those words. Not only that but when you get to the end of this lovely story the back 2 pages teaches your child many more French words and phrases from greetings to asking how someone feels and answering to family members and some words such as book, tree and bird!! I absolutely love any books that help children to learn and this one is such a brilliant one as it has been done in a fun filled way so an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elena and Margherita for coming up with this idea and creating this brilliant children's story!! It is not just French that the reader learns though as you also find out why flamingos are pink!! It is written in a way that is easy for children and adults to read and myself, my 11 year old son Malaki and 6 year old twins hunter and Ryder all took it in turns to read a page. We had loads of fun naming all the different things that the children could see in the photos and naming all the colours as well as having fun learning French. Malaki especially loved learning new words and phrases and is excited to go to school tomorrow to show off what he has learnt! It truly is an amazing and fantastic book and I would say it is suitable for any child from the age of baby - 8 years above. This book is lovely and short and can be a quick read or be made into a fun long read whichever the reader wishes. The font is a nice style and size making it easy for adults and children to see and read too which is definitely a bonus as I have struggled with some fonts that authors have used in children's books in the past. We all loved the absolutely brilliant illustrations on each and every page which were colourful and eye catching!!! We read the paperback version of this book and I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book for the kids as it is absolutely brilliant quality and the kids will love flipping through the pages and looking back and forth at the pictures!! It would be a perfect book for children to be read to by their teachers in school as well as friends and family members. Let your children's imaginations come alive with this fantastic book which teaches them a new language while enjoying a good story!!. I really cannot wait to read more books by the very talented Elena and Margherita to my children (and for myself) and hope that they are busy writing the next one already!
My 11 year old son Malaki had this to say about this book:
I really liked reading this book by Elena and Margherita. the story was loads of fun and I enjoyed reading it to Hunter and Ryder but my favourite thing is that I have learn loads of new French words which I am looking forward to teaching my friends in school tomorrow and showing my teacher. I am going to secondary school this year and am hoping to learn French, this is definitely a good start!
Congratulations Elena and Margherita on writing an absolutely absolutely fantastic and educational children's book filled with brilliant illustrations!! Here is to your next success 🥂 that we are all looking forward to seeing and reading!
Overall a fantastically illustrated, fun and educational children's book that i would highly recommend to all children and parents!
#MeliAndMac #ElenaJoannides #MargheritaEnde #mythikopress #mythiko #LiterallyPR
@ElenaJoannides @MargheritaEnde @mythikopress @mythiko @LiterallyPR
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June 6, 2024
I loved reading this delightful book with beautiful illustrations. Meli and Mac go on an adventure when they find a lost flamingo who speaks French. Can they help him find his way to the flamingo festival of the year? At the bottom of each page is a translation of the french words used on the page. A great way of introducing basic french to preschoolers. My grandchildren will love this book.
June 11, 2024
Meli and mac by Elana Joannides and Margherita Ende.
Rendezvous with a feeling.
This was a lovely read. Bright and colourful illustrations. I did love how at the bottom it told you in English what was said in French. What an adventure they had. A great way to learn a new language. This would be great for any age. I loved the story and characters. 5*.
Rendezvous with a feeling.
This was a lovely read. Bright and colourful illustrations. I did love how at the bottom it told you in English what was said in French. What an adventure they had. A great way to learn a new language. This would be great for any age. I loved the story and characters. 5*.
May 27, 2024
Meli and Mac is a delightful children's book that is sure to spark the imagination of young readers. The story follows siblings Meli and Mac as they embark on an exciting adventure with a lost flamingo who speaks French. The colorful illustrations by Margherita Ende bring the story to life and capture the magic of Serendipity Forest.
One of the highlights of the book is the inclusion of basic French words and phrases, which adds an educational element to the story. This feature allows children to learn new vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. The translation guide provided in the book makes it easy for children to follow along and learn alongside Meli and Mac.
Overall, Meli and Mac is a charming and heartwarming tale that promotes curiosity, friendship, and learning. It is the perfect book for young readers who enjoy stories filled with adventure and fun. Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende have created a wonderful world in Serendipity Forest, and I am eager to join Meli and Mac on their next expedition!
One of the highlights of the book is the inclusion of basic French words and phrases, which adds an educational element to the story. This feature allows children to learn new vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. The translation guide provided in the book makes it easy for children to follow along and learn alongside Meli and Mac.
Overall, Meli and Mac is a charming and heartwarming tale that promotes curiosity, friendship, and learning. It is the perfect book for young readers who enjoy stories filled with adventure and fun. Elena Joannides and Margherita Ende have created a wonderful world in Serendipity Forest, and I am eager to join Meli and Mac on their next expedition!
May 10, 2024
Mac and his sister, Meli, have to practise their French ready for a trip to Paris. Mac gets bored of learning his French, and opens his magic bag, which means it’s “Expedition o’clock.”
When they climb a tree and come across a lost flamingo, they decide to use their magic to help the flamingo get to the Shrimp Extravaganza, where the other flamingoes are.
This is a great children’s book that is full of facts and also teaches the children some French.
The pictures are fabulous, lovely and vibrant to keep hold of a child’s attention and imagination.
I especially liked the end where there is a list of different words for children to learn in French. This list includes members of the family, as well as teaching some words that were in the book that weren’t shown in French.
My thanks to Literally PR and the author for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
When they climb a tree and come across a lost flamingo, they decide to use their magic to help the flamingo get to the Shrimp Extravaganza, where the other flamingoes are.
This is a great children’s book that is full of facts and also teaches the children some French.
The pictures are fabulous, lovely and vibrant to keep hold of a child’s attention and imagination.
I especially liked the end where there is a list of different words for children to learn in French. This list includes members of the family, as well as teaching some words that were in the book that weren’t shown in French.
My thanks to Literally PR and the author for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 12, 2024
Very educational and lovely book about 2 children learning French. The illustrations are really well done and I would recommend
May 10, 2024
My kids and I fully enjoyed reading this book! We loved the adventure Meli and Mac go on, the gorgeous illustrations through their journey, and the mini-French lessons! I anticipate enjoying this one many times through the years!
May 20, 2024
Meli and Mac are going to Paris. Meli thinks they need to know some French to prepare for their trip. Mac replies that it would be easier to learn how to speak Flamingo.
Then Mac declares it’s “Expedition o’clock!” and grabbing hold of their coats and magic journal they are ready to go on an adventure. So off they go into Serendipity Forest.
“Where to today?” asks Mac, when a pink feather lands on the ground in front of them. And that’s when they meet a flamingo named Freddie.
The conversation is conducted in French with English translations. I love this as it enables children to learn some simple French phrases. We then learn about the flamingo festival known as the Shrimp Extravaganza. Shrimps give flamingoes their wonderful pink colour.
Meli and Mac have a fabulous time with their new pink friend, until eventually they go home, having set a ‘rendezvous’ for next year. Finally there’s a glossary of French words and phrases. A lovely, simple book that children will enjoy and can be used as a first reader later on – “Tres bien!”
Many thanks to LiterallyPR for inviting me to be part of the Meli and Mac blog tour.
Then Mac declares it’s “Expedition o’clock!” and grabbing hold of their coats and magic journal they are ready to go on an adventure. So off they go into Serendipity Forest.
“Where to today?” asks Mac, when a pink feather lands on the ground in front of them. And that’s when they meet a flamingo named Freddie.
The conversation is conducted in French with English translations. I love this as it enables children to learn some simple French phrases. We then learn about the flamingo festival known as the Shrimp Extravaganza. Shrimps give flamingoes their wonderful pink colour.
Meli and Mac have a fabulous time with their new pink friend, until eventually they go home, having set a ‘rendezvous’ for next year. Finally there’s a glossary of French words and phrases. A lovely, simple book that children will enjoy and can be used as a first reader later on – “Tres bien!”
Many thanks to LiterallyPR for inviting me to be part of the Meli and Mac blog tour.
May 1, 2024
This was a really cute and imaginative book. The pictures were well drawn and the story line was original. I wish there has been pronunciation guides for the French phrases. I don't speak French and stumbled through them reading to my daughter.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
June 7, 2024
Meli & Mac: Rendez-vous with a Flamingo by Elena Joannides, was a book that just kept on giving from the front cover to the very last page. Plus, to see a little boy smile when he opened this book, then started to read it. My nephew O absolutely loved it. Especially, as it was so colourful and fun to read. He loved the bits of the French language that was in the book Plus, there was more at the back which was magic! (O words!)
O took this book into his school and showed his teacher, now this book is used for their French lessons as they're being taught this.
Meli & Mac: Rendez-vous with a Flamingo became a much loved book for many of O's friends. His mum who is also a teacher enjoyed reading and learning new basic words in another language. This has become a favourite book of theirs.
Within this beautiful book, we meet Meli and Mac and have some flamingo fun in Serendipity Forest - and use the translation guide to learn a little French along the way!
This book is written in English and includes a basic introduction to French words and phrases. A great way of being introduced to French, especially it can be read to younger children while they follow the beautiful illustrations. I also found it great to be one of the first books a young child could learn to read from.....Double bonus.
I loved this book as well and found it fun to read and enjoyed reading this with O and having fun talking basic French to each other..........It's a great way to introduce children to a new
language which is beautiful.
I highly recommend this book. We loved it. Thank you x
Big thank you to #netgalley and @literallypr for the hard copy for O.
O took this book into his school and showed his teacher, now this book is used for their French lessons as they're being taught this.
Meli & Mac: Rendez-vous with a Flamingo became a much loved book for many of O's friends. His mum who is also a teacher enjoyed reading and learning new basic words in another language. This has become a favourite book of theirs.
Within this beautiful book, we meet Meli and Mac and have some flamingo fun in Serendipity Forest - and use the translation guide to learn a little French along the way!
This book is written in English and includes a basic introduction to French words and phrases. A great way of being introduced to French, especially it can be read to younger children while they follow the beautiful illustrations. I also found it great to be one of the first books a young child could learn to read from.....Double bonus.
I loved this book as well and found it fun to read and enjoyed reading this with O and having fun talking basic French to each other..........It's a great way to introduce children to a new
language which is beautiful.
I highly recommend this book. We loved it. Thank you x
Big thank you to #netgalley and @literallypr for the hard copy for O.
February 15, 2025
Book: Meli & Mac: Rendez-vous with a Flamingo Book Author: Elena Joannides Book Review: Elena Joannides' lovely children's picture book Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo blends knowledge, adventure, and cultural appreciation into a fascinating story. The narrative follows Meli and Mac, siblings, on an adventurous adventure in Serendipity Forest, where they come upon Freddie, a French-speaking flamingo that has gone missing. They set off together to teach young readers some basic French words and phrases while also assisting Freddie in finding his way to the flamingo festival.
Joannides' captivating and light-hearted writing style immediately captivates young readers. A distinctive twist is added by including a French-speaking flamingo, which piques interest in other languages and cultures. No prior knowledge is necessary, and French is delivered to kids in an approachable and entertaining manner. This method helps kids to embrace new experiences and languages at an early age while also making learning enjoyable.
Serendipity Forest and its people are vividly and whimsically depicted in the book's exquisite illustrations. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the pictures improve the narrative by offering younger readers visual cues that make it easier for them to follow along. Every page is a visual feast thanks to the intricate and vibrant pictures that perfectly convey the allure of the characters and the enchantment of the forest.
Joannides' captivating and light-hearted writing style immediately captivates young readers. A distinctive twist is added by including a French-speaking flamingo, which piques interest in other languages and cultures. No prior knowledge is necessary, and French is delivered to kids in an approachable and entertaining manner. This method helps kids to embrace new experiences and languages at an early age while also making learning enjoyable.
Serendipity Forest and its people are vividly and whimsically depicted in the book's exquisite illustrations. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the pictures improve the narrative by offering younger readers visual cues that make it easier for them to follow along. Every page is a visual feast thanks to the intricate and vibrant pictures that perfectly convey the allure of the characters and the enchantment of the forest.
June 23, 2024
Meli and Mac is a wonderful story about a brother and sister who help Freddie the flamingo find his way to the flamingo festival. The story includes phrases in French, which are translated at the bottom of the page for useful reference. Also, there are many more translations and a recap of those mentioned in the story at the back of the book. This reminded me when my children were young and I used to read Dora the Explorer to them. Like Meli and Mac, this also included phrases and translations, but these were in Spanish instead of French. Children (and Parents!) can quickly learn the basics of a second language by reading fun and engaging stories such as Meli and Mac – as mine did with Dora the Explorer and Swiper (-no swiping!!) I loved the illustrations, too. Children will enjoy seeing these cheerful and brightly coloured images as they listen to / or read themselves, this delightful story.
June 12, 2024
I read Meli and Mac with our youngest Daughter, Amelie-Rose, and we both really enjoyed it.
Amelie-Rose particularly enjoyed the part where Meli and Mac met Freddie the Flamingo ( who speaks French ) , who was losing his colour due to not eating enough shrimp. So Meli and Mac help him to find a nice lake where he could eat as much as he wanted.
As all good children's books should, it's packed full of brilliant, brightly coloured illustrations that jump off the page, and the writing is in a nice, easy to read font. The addition of French words and phrases was a great idea and will hopefully encourage children to get involved with learning new languages.
Amelie-Rose's attention was kept as we read along and we both hope there will be more Meli and Mac books.
A big 5 stars from us.
Amelie-Rose particularly enjoyed the part where Meli and Mac met Freddie the Flamingo ( who speaks French ) , who was losing his colour due to not eating enough shrimp. So Meli and Mac help him to find a nice lake where he could eat as much as he wanted.
As all good children's books should, it's packed full of brilliant, brightly coloured illustrations that jump off the page, and the writing is in a nice, easy to read font. The addition of French words and phrases was a great idea and will hopefully encourage children to get involved with learning new languages.
Amelie-Rose's attention was kept as we read along and we both hope there will be more Meli and Mac books.
A big 5 stars from us.
June 30, 2024
Meli and Mac is a creative, fun, bilingual picture book that encourages young readers to journey into their imaginations. Siblings Meli and Mac are soon headed to France, but learning French for the trip is hard for Mac--in fact, perhaps learning Flamingo would be simpler! However, nothing is easier for this duo than an epic and educational adventure. While taking Mac on a quick expedition break, the sibs pull every item necessary out of their magic bag and use their special journal to help a newly acquired friend--a lost flamingo who speaks French!--find his required destination. Along the way, readers are taught about flamingos and learn French words that are used in the dialogue (both topics are integrated seamlessly). Back matter will add to the language learning (which is great for adults, as well!) Colorful illustrations by Margherita Ende add to the fantasy and fun.
August 27, 2024
"Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo" by Elena Joannides is a charming children's picture book that combines adventure, education, and cultural appreciation. The story follows siblings Meli and Mac as they help a lost flamingo named Freddie find his way to the flamingo festival, while introducing young readers to basic French words and phrases.
The book features:
- Engaging and playful writing style
- Lively and relatable dialogue
- Educational component with a translation guide
- Beautiful and vibrant illustrations
- Promotes important values like teamwork, empathy, and diversity
This enchanting story is perfect for children of all ages, from listening to the story and exploring illustrations to using it as a first reader and learning French phrases. A wonderful addition to any child's bookshelf!
August 27, 2024
“Meli & Mac: Rendez-Vous with a Flamingo” by Elena Joannides is a charming children's book that blends adventure, education, and cultural appreciation. The story follows siblings Meli and Mac as they help a lost flamingo named Freddie, who speaks French, find his way to a festival. Along the way, young readers are introduced to basic French words, making learning both fun and engaging.
The book’s vibrant illustrations bring Serendipity Forest to life, while its themes of teamwork, empathy, and embracing diversity are woven naturally into the narrative. With its playful writing and educational touch, this is a delightful read for children, offering both entertainment and learning opportunities. A perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf!
The book’s vibrant illustrations bring Serendipity Forest to life, while its themes of teamwork, empathy, and embracing diversity are woven naturally into the narrative. With its playful writing and educational touch, this is a delightful read for children, offering both entertainment and learning opportunities. A perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf!
September 7, 2024
Meli & Mac is my daughter's all-time favourite bedtime story! It's such a beautiful book inside out. The story is well written, very touching and super fun to read.
The writer did an amazing job developing the two main characters and their adventures with a quite funny and beautifully illustrated French-speaking flamingo!
Also, for all the Francophiles out there, Meli & Mac offers a fantastic and easy introduction to the French language for your little ones.
I highly recommend this book to any parents who wish to inspire their kids to step out of their comfort zone, be more adventurous and develop their curiosity about the wonderful world around them!
The writer did an amazing job developing the two main characters and their adventures with a quite funny and beautifully illustrated French-speaking flamingo!
Also, for all the Francophiles out there, Meli & Mac offers a fantastic and easy introduction to the French language for your little ones.
I highly recommend this book to any parents who wish to inspire their kids to step out of their comfort zone, be more adventurous and develop their curiosity about the wonderful world around them!
June 16, 2024
Mac is bored studying his French, so when he finishes, he and his sister Meli go on an expedition to relieve the boredom. They meet Freddie the French flamingo who has lost his way as he travelled to the Shrimp Extravaganza. Together, Mac and Meli help Freddie, practicing their French along the way. I liked the dual language aspect of the book, Helen children pronounce and understand common French phrases. The illustrations are bright and delightful; they feel lifelike and as if they could step off the page at any moment. It’s a lovely story and very enjoyable as a bedtime story or fun read.
September 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this story!
The illustrations in this book are just lovely - they are colourful, clear, bright and they really do bring the story to life - I loved meeting the characters!
There is a great running theme in the book where it gives you a few French words along with the English that the book is written in - my daughter is learning French at school so this was great for her. The story is easy to follow and understand and my 7 year old really enjoyed it.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!
The illustrations in this book are just lovely - they are colourful, clear, bright and they really do bring the story to life - I loved meeting the characters!
There is a great running theme in the book where it gives you a few French words along with the English that the book is written in - my daughter is learning French at school so this was great for her. The story is easy to follow and understand and my 7 year old really enjoyed it.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!
November 2, 2024
"Meli and Mac: Rendez Vous with a Flamingo," is an enchanting book about two children who face a moment of boredom and turn it into an incredible imaginative journey of discovery and friendship. The author has found a way to initiate curiosity in children who are learning to speak French and succeeds in making learning a new language appear fun rather than a chore. It is beautifully illustrated to compliment the story and the characters demonstrate the importance of connection and team work.
Dr Marcelle Moore
Dr Marcelle Moore
November 26, 2024
“Meli & Mac: Rendez-vous with a Flamingo” is a delightful children’s book that captivates young readers with its vibrant illustrations and heartwarming story. The French words and phrases make it a joy to read aloud, while the colorful artwork immerses children in their exciting journey. This book is perfect for bedtime, leaving kids with a smile and a sense of wonder. A great gift for families and young animal enthusiasts!
April 28, 2024
Very educational kids book! It is a story about a brother and sister learning French and using that French while going on an adventure with a flamingo.
Fun story, with lots of bright colors and great pictures. I don't see it being a constant repeat read, but I can see us going back every now and then.
Fun story, with lots of bright colors and great pictures. I don't see it being a constant repeat read, but I can see us going back every now and then.
March 28, 2024
A charming and magical adventure story of young sister and brother helping a lost, French flamingo find a shrimp extravaganza. Snippets of simple French for fun throughout. A handy summary at the end with a few extra words. Beautifully illustrated.
July 2, 2024
Meli and Mac is a super little book with great illustrations
I love that there are French phrases and words used through the book. These are translated too. But it’s a great way to introduce a new language at such an early age.
Great book, my grandchildren love it.
I love that there are French phrases and words used through the book. These are translated too. But it’s a great way to introduce a new language at such an early age.
Great book, my grandchildren love it.
July 23, 2024
Meli & Mac is a delightful story about a brother and sister who go on a journey and meet a French-speaking flamingo. It is a fun bedtime story which softly introduces some French language to children, and its illustrations are bright and colourful. It is a book that makes you smile!
August 29, 2024
This cute, colorful adventure story takes us on a journey with a lost flamingo, a Shrimp Extravaganza, and lots of friendly French phrases. Info about flamingoes is sprinkled seamlessly in the story, and French phrases are also so naturally interwoven!
April 15, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! Very clever very educational and, at the same time, very fun to read!!loved every bit of it! Highly recommended! Enjoy!
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