Dima, or the Guinea Pig

Dima and Dinka were twins. Twins who could not stand each other and were constantly arguing. And sometimes, it's shameful to admit, they even fought.

There was nothing in common between the brother and sister! They liked different games, books, and movies. Dinka only ate healthy food, while Dima was crazy about sweets. It was because of this that he once had a toothache and his cheeks swelled up, which almost ruined the family trip to Stockholm: at the airport, a short-sighted employee mistook the chubby boy for a guinea pig and sent him to the plane's cargo hold!

In the cargo hold, where the passengers' pets traveled, Dima met a beautiful white cat named Alain Delon, a talkative parrot, and the last remaining rare tiger in the world, who was in danger. The thing is, a villain—the head chef—had secretly snuck onto the plane, intending to kidnap the tiger, make exquisite dishes from it, and sell them to his wealthy clients.

Upon learning of the villain's plans, Dima and the other animals decided to thwart them at all costs. But they couldn't do it alone, and they needed Dinka's help. Although the brother and sister were very different, in a difficult moment they forgot all their disagreements and joined forces for a truly important and good cause. After all, that's exactly what siblings are for—to support each other in crucial moments.

Julia Spiridonova is one of the most sought-after and widely read contemporary children's writers in Bulgaria and a laureate of many national awards. She has also become the first Bulgarian author nominated for the world's largest award in children's literature, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

Illustrator: Miglena Papazova
Translator: Maria Shiryayeva