Lerne die Figuren kennen

Youngest son

Vito is the youngest in the family and the whole world is a wonder to him. He asks 'why?' twenty times a day — why is the sky blue, why does the dog have a tail, why does grandma put salt in the soup. He wants to touch everything, pick up every stone, look at every bug up close. He adores his older brother Pino and follows him everywhere. He's happiest when sitting in grandpa Otto's lap listening to a story, or running after Jole around the yard. He doesn't yet understand everything the adults say, but he feels everything — and that's what makes him special.

Older brother

Pino is the older brother who sees dragons in the clouds and an ocean in a puddle. He lives in a world where everything is possible — magic exists, trees talk, and Jole understands every word. He loves when grandpa Otto tells stories, but unlike little Vito who just listens, Pino asks the harder questions — 'but why is it like that?', 'is that fair?', 'what would have happened if it were different?'. He looks out for Vito and always explains things to him in his own way, sometimes correctly and sometimes completely wrong, which always makes grandma Maria laugh.

Older sister

Maja is a girl who sees beauty where others don't look for it — in a cracked cup, in rain running down the window, in the color of the sky five minutes before sunset. She doesn't show her secret notebook to anyone, but inside it are stories and drawings that would make even the hardest heart cry. Sometimes she pretends her brothers get on her nerves, but the truth is she'd do anything for Vito and Pino. She can't stand rudeness and shallowness — when someone speaks loudly but says nothing, Maja quietly leaves.

Dad

Dundo is a dad who'd rather show than tell. Instead of saying 'I love you', he'll take you to the mountains and together you'll watch the sun rise. He fixes everything around the house — from the faucet to a broken heart. He makes the best barbecue in the world and teaches the kids to never give up too soon. Sometimes he struggles with words, but when he hugs you — he doesn't need a single one.

Mom

Eva is the heart of the family — the one who knows when to hug and when to let a child fall and get back up on their own. In the morning she runs before everyone wakes up, and in the evening she reads to the kids before bed. In a small notebook she secretly writes poetry about moments no one notices — about the way Pino holds a spoon, about the look in Vito's eyes when he watches the stars. When Eva smiles, the whole room grows warmer.

Grandpa (Dundo's father)

Otto speaks little, but when he does — the children stop breathing so they don't miss a single word. His whole life he's built things with his hands: chairs, birdhouses, wooden bridges. But the most beautiful things he builds are stories. Instead of giving advice, he tells a story — and somehow, the answer appears on its own. He loves his morning coffee on the terrace, chess with Maria, and the smell of freshly planed wood. He can't stand rushing, shallowness, and when someone wastes food.

Grandma (Otto's wife)

Maria holds the family together — literally, because when she makes her soup, everyone shows up at the table, even those who are fighting. She solves every problem with food and a hug, in that order. She sings old songs while she knits, keeps a box of old photographs she doesn't show anyone except on special occasions, and smells of lavender and fresh bread. She's stubborn, but only out of love — when she says 'eat', she's not asking.

Aunt (Eva's older sister)

Helena is Eva's older sister and the complete opposite — while Eva builds a home, Helena explores the world. She's traveled to every continent and always comes back with gifts, spices, and stories she never finishes — on purpose, to spark the imagination. She's never married, says the whole world is her family. The kids adore her because she treats them like adults and never says 'you're not allowed'.

Vito's friend from school

Hana is a girl who reads more than she speaks. At school she sits in the last row with a book and chocolate, and most people think she's shy. But when Hana speaks — everyone goes quiet. Her words carry weight because she never wastes them. She's brave in a quiet, unexpected way — she won't shout, but she'll stand in front of injustice without blinking an eye. She loves old libraries, rainy days, and stars. She can't stand noise and people who talk a lot but say nothing.

Neighbor gardener

Margareta is the neighbor everyone whispers about, but whose garden everyone secretly adores — the most beautiful in the whole town. She talks to her plants and insists they can hear her. She works in the garden only at night, under the moonlight. When the children ask her why, she always answers with a story about roots that grow in the dark. She's small and wiry, with hands always in the soil, and she always has wisdom hidden in a story about some flower.

Neighbor, farmer

Luca is the neighbor who always smells of hay and fresh air. On his small farm he has goats, chickens, a donkey named Berto, and a flock of sheep he knows by name. He rises with the sun and goes to bed with the sun. He speaks slowly, laughs loudly, and always has an apple in his pocket for the children who stop by. Vito and Pino love spending time on his farm — Luca teaches them how to milk a goat, how to care for animals, and why patience is the most important virtue in the countryside.

Forester and hunter

Gabriel knows every tree in the forest by name. He lives alone in a stone cottage at the edge of the woods with two hunting dogs and an owl that comes to his window every evening. He used to be a hunter, but long ago he hung up his rifle — now he protects the forest instead of hunting in it. At first the children are afraid of him because he's quiet and serious, but when he starts talking about the forest — about animal tracks, about the stars that guide the way home, about why wolves howl — no one can stop listening. Vito considers him the bravest person he knows.

Family dog

Jole is a dog who feels everything. When Vito is sad, Jole lies on his feet and waits. When Pino is happy, Jole runs after him around the yard until they both collapse with laughter. He has a slight limp in his back leg — ever since he jumped into the creek as a puppy and pulled out little Pino who had fallen in. Otto found him on the road as a puppy and brought him home, and since then Jole has been the four-legged heart of the family. He loves running through the fields, chewing sticks, and sleeping in the sun — but most of all he loves Pino's bed.

Family cat

Loli is a cat who rules the house — and everyone knows it. She sleeps wherever she wants, eats whenever she wants, and ignores everyone except Maja, who is the only one allowed to pet her when Loli hasn't asked for it. She has a strange relationship with Jole — they look like they can't stand each other, but when it rains, they always sleep side by side. Loli is mysterious, independent, and sometimes disappears for days, then comes back as if nothing happened. Maria insists that Loli understands every word — she just chooses to ignore them.