Commentaire descriptif

Every Sunday, Leo’s extended family gathers for lunch at Nonna’s house. A reluctant eater, Leo refuses to join the table until his grandmother wins him over with stories about the different shapes of pasta they are eating: stelline (“little stars”), chiancaredde (“paving stones”) and occho di lupo (“wolf’s eyes”). Before long, Leo is rushing to the table for more. “He’s hungry for stories,” his family jokes. Lovely collage-like mixed media illustrations in appealing colours bring the busy family to life. The night scenes in Nonna’s stories are a beautiful contrast to the daytime meals. Extra layering of paper cut-outs and a twinkling night sky depict the boy who “went out at night with the light of a thousand stars to guide him.” Text is accessible, filled with repetition and dialogue that nicely integrate Italian words into the lyrical stories. Vocabulary words are defined, while the final page gives information about different pastas and the importance of food in Italian culture. This heart-warming tale about family, food and sharing stories makes for a wonderful read-aloud experience.