This book is based on a true story of the writer’s Jurga Vile’s family. More precisely – on the story of her father Algis in his childhood deported to Siberia. He’s called Algiukas, little Algis, back then.
One early morning in June, 1941, Algiukas and his family are waken up by angry Russian soldiers ordering them to prepare to leave. The boy around eight, his mother, father and his big sister don’t know, where they’ll be sent and for how long. They have ten minutes to get ready. Algiukas takes his friend Martynas the Goose. Martynas the Goose hides Algiukas’ family photo album under his wing. Algiukas’ dad takes a bucket of apples… The same morning lots of Lithuanian families experience this scary situation. In the train station the men are separated from their families. Algiukas’ dad gives him the apples telling to treasure them, as they are Lithuania. A Postwoman brings to the unfortunates some paper and pencils. This will permit them to keep writing letters. Algiukas’ aunt Petronėlė takes to the journey a book of Japanese haiku poems. In exile she inspires the deportees not to succumb to the despair and to see the beautiful side of life.
Main prize in Book Art contest 2017.
Best book of the Year by IBBY Lithuania 2017.
Best illustrations for children book by IBBY Lithuania 2017.