The feline advisor to the prince, Papa Gatto, learns not to judge by appearances when he hires the beautiful but neglectful Sophia to take care of his kittens. Sophia’s plain but loving stepsister Beatrice proves herself a more worthy caretaker.
Italy
Materials from Italy
Adventures Of Pinocchio: Tale of a Puppet
From the comic opening of a piece of uncarved wood already endowed with a personality all its own, to the drama of the final moment when Pinocchio rejoices over his transformation into a flesh-and-blood boy, this is a work of irresistible charm. Full-color illustrations.
Iron Hans
The classic Brothers Grimm folktale of a king, his son, Iron Hans, and a spell is enriched by impressive illustrations of exotic creatures in exquisite settings.
Amzat & His Brothers
The tales–the title story, “Mezgalten,” and “Olimpia, Cucol, and the Door”–come from the Tuscan village of Pianoro Vecchio and were told to the author by a friend. In all three tales, misfortune is reversed, cleverness rewarded–and storytelling language relished. Two-color illustrations.
Count Silvernose
The two younger daughters of an old washerwoman are lovely, foolish, and useless, while the oldest is homely, clever, and strong. When the two younger sisters disappear and are reported dead, Assunta resolves to discover the truth and rescue her sisters.
Caterina: The Clever Farm Girl
In this Tuscan folktale, a poor farmer’s daughter becomes queen by charming the king with her wit and ingenuity.
Grandfather’s Rock
It’s a sad day when father decides the family can no longer care for Grandfather and he has to be taken to the home for old people on the other side of the hill. His four grandchildren are determined to keep their grandfather out of the home for old people, and it is up to the oldest, Prima, to convince Father, in a story based on a traditional Italian folktale.
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Pinocchio has delighted audiences since the late nineteenth century. Now in Graham Philpot’s fresh and lively new version, this sophisticated tale has been simplified into a fast-paced, funny adventure that introduces young readers to the enormous appeal of the original.
Petrosinella: A Neapolitan Rapunzel
A retelling of a classic Italian tale that predates the Grimms’ Rapunzel by nearly two hundred years features a golden-tressed young woman who uses wit and magic to outsmart the wicked ogress and wed her prince.
Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci
In 1781, Thomas Paine came up with a model for a single-span bridge; in 1887, Adolf Eugen Fick made the first pair of contact lenses; and in 1907, Paul Cornu built the first helicopter. But Leonardo da Vinci thought of all these ideas more than five hundred years ago! At once an artist, inventor, engineer, and scientist, da Vinci wrote and drew detailed descriptions of what would later become hang gliders, automobiles, robots, and much more.