From I-ville to You-ville by Mersine Vigopoulou (2007) Hardcover

by Mersine Vigopoulou

From I-ville to You-ville, the well-known, best selling Orthodox Christian children's book of Greece, presently in its eighth printing, is now available in English. This is Christian allegory reminiscent of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. The unique and wise counsel of Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain is presented in a way that is perfect for children and adults alike. In every turn and twist of this adventure of a young man making his way from his home of I-ville to the unknown, but longed-for, kingdom of You-ville the author masterfully weaves the wisdom of the elder into the fabric of the story, constructing a seamless garment of beauty, charm and enlightenment. I-ville - a Kingdom where pride and selfishness dwell, and where people live by the motto "Me first!" You-ville - a Kingdom where humility and kindness have their home, and where people put the good of others before their own. This is the story of a young boy named Stubborn, as he strives to become the first person of I-ville

Genres: Spirituality, Childrens, Christian, Religion, Fantasy

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Mayr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find myself being full of pride when i am too shy to go talk to someone else because i am afraid as seeming too stupid. I also have not come to the point that is trusting in God and not in your abilities. I have not gotten to the point that i am humble. I am still trying to understand how and why to be humble. This book has really given me what to think about.

[Basil Moulton]

i will shrink my ego my little i

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this book together at least once a year in my house, and its vocabulary has become our vocabulary. What a great blessing this book - and the wisdom of Elder Paisios that it beautifully transmits - have been to our family! I love this book, and recommend it for family reading.

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a very interesting journey to the land of you not I

[daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

i learned about this book this weekend at an orthodox retreat. the speaker, a nun, read an exert from it. if you have children, i highly recommend it.

[Alexa Sifakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome I read it with my mom and we both enjoyed it!! I used it as my book report book!!!

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

shrink your EGO!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second read of this book, ten years after my first reading. Both times I've read it with sons, around ages 6-10. And both times I've had the same surprise. I find the book itself to be rather mediocre. It's a translation, but even allowing for the possible awkwardness of inadequate translation, I find the narrative itself to be a bit plodding and the text to lack poetic nuance I would prefer. But, my kids absolutely love it, even to the point that, when I pulled it out this year, my 17 year old immediately recalled how much he loved it 10 years ago. It is a child's moral tale, based on the teachings of Paisios, a contemporary elder of Greece. Again, while it is mediocre children's literature, it is nonetheless captivating to young children. I'm also delighted at how well my kids have internalized the message - shrinking one's ego to focus on the "other" as opposed to one's self. They are continually discussing this concept and how to apply it in their lives. This is a much-needed lesson in today's culture, so I'm grateful for how the book has affected both them and me.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written similar to Pilgrim's Progress with clear allegorical imagery and names. It is filled with great, easy to understand lessons for young children. Its emphasis is on pride (I-ville) and humility (You-ville) and what it takes to journey from one to the other in order to enter into the Kingdom of God.

[Wiffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this book once a year, as a family. In spite of it's simplicity it still brings something new to us each time.

[Erin Klarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orthodox Christian answer to Pilgrim's Progress, for children. My kids loved it. This is our second time reading it, and my older children who remembered it were so excited to read it again.

[Cristin Slobozeanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best children's book that I've read. I found it to be a wonderful way to talk to children about virtues. Here, virtues and passions are characters that behave according to their names. The characters in this realm live in two cities. One of them is ruled by queen Pride (translated from the Romanian edition). A young man leaves the city of selfishness, and under the wise counsel of Elder Paisios, manages to shrink his ego and reaches You-ville, where he discovers a totally different world.

Although this is a standalone novel, the adventure continues in the second book, written some 10 years later Din cetatea lui Tu in cetatea Cerului. I don't think this one has been translated into English yet.

I hope it will inspire your kids to acquire the virtues of the Holy Spirit!

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely moral tale about a young boy, Stubborn, who transforms from being a citizen of I-ville, a country based on the world of Me, to a citizen of You-ville, a place that exemplifies the teachings of loving your neighbor as yourself. Since the story focuses on moral teachings more than anything, I found the characters underdeveloped and one-sided, but overall it's a wholesome read; and anything that inspires little ones to look outside themselves is worth the words...

[Fady Barsoum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written children book that touches upon fundamental spiritual life. While my 8 year old boy couldn't hold reading it all with excitement, I felt that the deep spiritual concepts learned from this book are very much needed for children and adults alike. I personally feel I need to read it several time to comprehend and live the concepts introduced. Woukd love to learn about more similar book. Please share other titles as you find them. Thank you!

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was really sweet, but that I might have enjoyed it more at a younger age.

[Annie Mckenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, thought provoking, great anthology for character education.

[Ɠяαcє O'Ɓяιєη➵ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really life changing. It taught me to think about others and just myself. It also taught me to be humble and not prideful. I'm really prideful, but I don't think that I am humble yet.

[Fevronia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever! Read it and you won’t regret it. ( for babies, kids, teenagers, adults, and elders)