Squirrel Tales Author Visit: Elifgül Büyükoral and Evgenia Mantikas

A tangled fishing line leads to unexpected friendship in this heartwarming tale of laughter, connection, and understanding across cultural divides.

A thought-provoking picture book celebrating cross-cultural relationships in a gentle, intergenerational story connecting Türkiye and Greece on the Aegean Sea. For every reader who’s ever felt divided by differences—or discovered that understanding can turn strangers into friends.

Elifgül Büyükoral was born and raised in Türkiye, where her close-knit family nurtured her love for books. Elifgül delved into the world of literature and language when she earned her BA in ESL. Fueled by her passion for storytelling, Elifgül moved to the United States to receive her MA in children’s literature from Simmons University in Boston. Elifgül writes stories that shine light on her heritage and Islamic faith, hoping to amplify diverse voices. Ege and Ávra is her first book. Learn more at elifgulbuyukoral.com .

A second generation Greek American, Evgenia Mantikas grew up immersed in her family’s culture. She visited Xios every summer, reading for hours on the beach. Evgenia’s love for stories grew as she studied creative writing and received her BA and MA in English literature. After teaching ELA for two years, Evgenia returned to school and earned her MFA from Simmons University and uses her voice to tell cultural stories about family. She loves writing, but she loves teaching too. She taught most recently in a middle school in Queens, New York. Ege and Ávra is her first book. Learn more at https://www.evgeniamantikas.com/.

We hope to see you there for a reading and signing with these two amazing authors!