Nation Studies: Italy

Written by Giambattista Basile and illustrated by Diane Stanley. The story follows a pregnant woman who steals parsley from an ogress's garden and agrees to give up her child as payment. The child, named Petrosinella after the parsley, is raised by the ogress in a tower. The tale is notable for its influence on later versions of the "Rapunzel" story, including the Brothers Grimm's version.

Written by Margaret Hodges and illustrated by Ted Lewin. The book tells the story of Saint Francis of Assisi, focusing on his transformation from a wealthy young man to a devoted follower of God who helped the poor and befriended animals. Born into a wealthy family in Assisi, Francis became increasingly troubled by the poverty around him and eventually sold some family items to give money to a poor church. His father, disgraced by his actions, ordered him to leave home with only a coarse robe, leading Francis to adopt a life of poverty and good works, preaching God's word and helping those in need.

The story is based on an old French legend and takes place in Italy. It follows the journey of Giovanni, a young orphan who learns to juggle and becomes famous for his performances. Over time, Giovanni's skills decline as he ages, and he eventually becomes a beggar. However, during Christmas, he performs one final, spectacular juggling act for the Christ Child, leading to a miraculous outcome. Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.

An Italian fairy tale which features Papa Gatto, a clever cat who serves as an adviser to the prince. He makes a mistake by hiring the beautiful but neglectful Sophia to care for his eight tiny kittens, leading to chaos in his home and the kittens being neglected. Fortunately, he finds a better caretaker in Beatrice, Sophia's loving stepsister. Written and illustrated by Ruth Sanderson.