Stardventures
A collection of stories about stars, each in their own way motivating children to become good towards themselves, their families and their surroundings.
Book Number One
About the Author
Theo Mihajlović
What should I write about myself?
I’m Theo, a totally normal guy, and I like a lot of things, but most of all I like soccer and all sports related to it. I’m really into soccer training and I have big dreams about it. Besides ball games, I really like playing chess (thanks, Grandpa Lojze, for teaching me) and ping pong. At school, I am interested in various subjects, but my favorites are history and geography. I like to travel and explore new places. I like to read books and learn new things. I am grateful to all my teachers who understand me when I can’t sit still. I am a lively sort of person. Because I am curious, I sometimes (like probably all children) annoy my mom and brothers a little too much. I will be 16 in December.
I finished elementary school in Ljubljana, and now I am in my first year of high school, studying economics. I still play soccer every day.
Since our family faced many challenges shortly after my birth, which we successfully overcame, charity is very important to our family and we have talked about it a lot.
I wrote the fairy tale about the brave star Pia during the pre-Christmas period while I was homeschooling in December 2020 as one of my homework assignments. Our teacher encouraged us to think outside the box and make our assignments interesting and different. This is how the story of the brave star Pia came about, who, with the help of her sisters, saves Christmas and makes sure that the holidays are beautiful and pleasant for everyone, somehow fulfilled. I am aware that not all children are lucky enough to enjoy Christmas presents, so I will donate part of the proceeds from my book to charitable foundations that ensure that children’s faces are smiling during the holidays and that they are well-fed and happy.
Since the book was published, my mother and I have visited the Materinski dom in Ljubljana every year and given gifts to all the children and mothers there.
I already have ideas for new star adventures in my head!
Foreword from teacher Matija
As a school teacher, every year I observe the faces of my pupils, how they watch me with those curious or scared eyes of theirs. Behind every pair, somewhere deep within their mind, questions like these arise: Will this year be difficult? Will I manage? Why is our world like this and not different? Will the teacher demand a lot from me, will I be good enough for him?
If only the pupils knew how wonderful and powerful they really are. If only we knew how shaky those boundaries are which we help our children set “so that they do now wander off into the unknown.” Surely they must feel how the teachers and parents strive to guide everyone on the right path? The one we believe is the right one. Sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is exhausting.
And yet, every school year within a group of pupils one sees a few individuals who are not afraid of trying something new. They have nothing to lose. After all, if they do not feel strong enough on their own, their friends, their toys, their creative products and such can help them out. In other words, the power to change the world and create good suddenly becomes the domain of ideas which pop up in children’ heads. Boundless, completely out of bounds. Special.
And this is the wonderful message of this book: power does not lie in your size, speed or importance. Your power lies in your ideas, which can change the world. At least a little. A few steps at a time.
And now listen to one of such kids…