Jukato

Casper jumps into a lake to save a dog. The puppy survives but the boy ends up in hospital with a broken bone. His convalescence turns out to be a long and arduous process so Casper starts to become a little aggressive. Only Tom – his classmate who has ADHD – understands what Casper is going through. Julie, who has just woken up from a coma, joins their team. Together, the children imagine a magic land – JuCaTo – to help them get through this difficult time. They remain friends after leaving the hospital. Suddenly, it turns out that Jucato is a real place and they’re able to travel to this land, where they have some wonderful adventures in this magical place. Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan. Each of them must face a difficult challenge. This story teaches young readers the art of empathy and how to be understanding. They also learn how our psyche works and how it influences our behavior in difficult situations. The topics discussed in this book are not easy but by setting the action in a magical land, the author, Magdalena Kiermaszek, can deal with them in a lighter and more entertaining manner. Funny episodes make the setting of the story – a hospital – as well as health issues in general less overwhelming. The patients’ behavior is wonderfully portrayed. The author, Magdalena Kiermaszek works with disabled children as a psychologist so she has many opportunities to observe their behavior. Kamila Kozłowska’s illustrations help to create the magical atmosphere of the story and make this book even more special.