Pinocchio

Online Stories

Color-Pages

Pinocchio

Art Puzzels

Cute, educational, Italian word children's T-shirts

I've tried to provide something in all age groups:  

• young children, 
• pre-teens,
• teens.

Several are enjoyable for the parents, too.  I provide click-throughs to the stores where you can read comments about the products, and get information from the publishers.  Here are the sections:

• Emilio Salgari

• Books

• Music

• Games and Toys

• Holiday Treats

• Italophile Baby/Toddler Wear

Here are some other Sandokan products from Amazon.com.  You can click through to Amazon to learn more about them.

Books

The Adventures of Pinocchio: Story of a Puppet/Le avventure di Pinocchio: storia di un burattino

Collodi's famous tale in a bi-lingual edition:  the original Italian, and an English translation.  It's illustrated with Mazzanti's illustrations from the earliest editions.  This is an edition for both adults and children, both scholarly and charming for children.  Rave reader reviews.

The Thread of Life

Illustrated by Mary Grandpre (the Harry Potter illustrator).  Twelve traditional Italian folk tales retold with beautiful illustrations.  Amazon lets you take a peak inside the book.

Italian Paper Dolls

Mr. Tierney has a whole series of paper doll books.  Each has a few dolls, plus lots of outfits to dress them up in.  These three are specifically Italian, but you should check out the whole series.  He has Belle Epoch, Elsa Schiaparelli, Medieval...  All priced under 6$.  Amazon lets you ook inside a book.

See my free Renaissance Figures you can print out to color, frame or to make into paper dolls.

Strega Nona

These books are for children 4-8.  This is the first in a series of, by now, classic books about Strega Nona by Mr. de Paola.  From a reader review:  "...I remember mom reading this one to me as a child. It was a bedtime ritual. The story is a fun blend of fantasy, magic, and adolescent mischief that ends with an interesting lesson...."  Amazon lets you look insides this one, and several others.  See my Strega Nona page with more on Mr. dePaola and this book.

Zoe Sophia's Scrapbook

For children grades 1-4.  From a reader review:  "Now my daughter keeps her own scrapbook.  This sweet book captures the adventure of travel and the beauty of Venice through the eyes of a nine-year old girl. The novel scrapbook format of the story simply illustrates the importance and value of documenting our experiences and travels. Zoe Sophia inspired my daughter!"  Amazon lets you look inside the book.

Vacation Under the Volcano

For pre-teens.  This book is from the 'Magic Tree House' series.  From the book description:  "Their magic tree house takes Annie and Jack to Pompeii just as Vesuvius is about to erupt, and they must find a Roman scroll before everything is covered with burning ash."  Amazon lets you look in the book.

Archimedes

For pre-teens.  From a reader review:  "I just got done reading this aloud to my home-schooled 6th grade twins. What a treasure! The author weaves together mathematical and scientific principles into a delightful story format. My kids had no trouble understanding the well-illustrated concepts."  Archimedes was a Sicilian from Siracuse, when it was still a Greek colony.  Amazon lets you look inside the book.

Flavia Gemini Series

For pre-teens and teens.  The mystery series is set in Ancient Rome's Ostia, the capital's port city.  Young Flavia Gemini and her friends solve mysteries as the young readers learn about that time in history.  From a young reader's review:  "The Theives of Ostia is the first of an amazing series of 6. It begins in Ostia, port town of rome in about 90 ad. 4 children meet up to solve a mystery, this book contains many cliffhangers and shocks that will send your mind reeling."  Amazon lets you look inside the book.

Scorpia

For pre-teens and teens.  Alex Rider stars in a series of adventure books for young readers.  This one takes him to Italy.  From a young reader's review:  "This is by FAR the best book in the series.  Anthony Horowitz must make a new book somehow connecting with this ending.  Absolutely breathtaking."  Amazon lets you take a look inside the book.  This has recently been made into a film, and the films will continue with the other books in the series.

Music

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy - My Favorite Opera for Children

Amazon lets you listen to all 18 tracks of this CD on-line.  From a parent's review:  "...After he turned 4, he said to me one day -- let's listen to opera, and now we listen to this CD every day. This music gets his blood going; he struts around his room when he listens to this. And, he is in every respect a typical boy who likes Pokemon and the Back Street Boys. So, I consider this CD successful in introducing opera to a youngster."

This opera CD for children has all 14 tracks in English.  From a parent's review:  "My two boys received this album as a gift in tape form. We have listened to it so often we now have to purchase the CD to replace the worn-down tape. We can't live without it! My 6 year old begs for "Figaro!" and my 3 year old loves the Flower Duet! This is a wonderful gift!"

Games

Here are some games and toys related to Italy that you might enjoy for your children.

The following items are available from the very cute on-line shop mybambino.com.  They personalize most items they sell with the child's name. 

They also have a lovely section with Italian names and their meanings, so you can personalize gifts with both.

They offer personalized:  furniture, books, bags, dishes, frames, storage, posters, grow charts, banks, ornaments, study materials, clocks, and these toys.

Magnetic Name Puzzle - $ 19.99 A room accent with endless educational and play value - This wooden puzzle board has all the appeal of a puzzle while it teaches children how to spell their name. Colorful magnetic letters stick to blocks, and magnetic blocks stick to display puzzle board. Each letter lifts out of the block to reveal an image that begins with that letter. Puzzle board has string hanger for displaying. Specify six or nine space puzzle. We will fill the remaining spaces with gender appropriate blocks (i.e. kittens, flowers, sports balls, boats). Six space puzzle 16"x4 1/2" ($19.99) Nine space puzzle 23"x4 1/2" ($27.99).

Pizza Party - $ 21.99 It's a Pizza Party everyday A toy parents rave about. "Hours of fun", they claim. This pizza kit comes with six thick (durable) slices, a pizza cutter, a spatula and 54 velcro pizza toppings. Kids can create and recreate different recipes, serve their masterpieces, and sort the toppings. All pieces store in a wood box with see-through lid that can be personalized. Ages 3+. 14"x10"x2"

Personalized Classic Game Set - $ 21.99 Fun for the whole family or for solitaire play. This compact wood box houses 24 glass marbles, jacks, balls, a deck of playing card, wood yo-yo, pick-up sticks, and dominoes. We personalize the plexi-glass lid. Makes a great hostess gift. Ages 6 and up. 9 ?” x 6 ?”

Personalized Crayon Truck Caddy - $ 19.99 Colors To Go -Solid wood truck with movable wheels stores and totes 24 crayons (included). A fun personalized way to keep kid colors within reach. Pine wood. 11"x3 3/4"x3"

Take-A-Long Tool Kit - $ 19.99 Little carpenter can learn to construct- This handy "just like dad's" tool box contains all the essentials: nuts, bolts, hammer, screwdriver: 24 pieces in all. All made of real wood painted in non-toxic paint. Ages 3 and up. We hand paint child's name in blue on natural wood carrier.

Cutting Food Box - $ 24.99 Encourage safe kitchen play -A box full of sliced wooden food - a carrot, apple, tomato, cucumber, avacodo, slice of watermelon, a loaf of french bread and three slices of bread all ready to be sliced and chopped. 33 wooden pieces in all, including 2 knives and 2 cutting boards. Food pieces are held together with velcro for attaching and reattaching. Great play value. Ages 3+. Sorry, this item is not personalized.

Personalized Busy Box - $ 24.99 An activity box full of goodies - This storage box has a chalkboard lid and is filled with 3 coloring books, crayons, pencils, chalk and an eraser. Ideal for home or car. Roomy enough to hold other travel needs. Positions easily on lap, table, or floor. Measures 16?"W x 11"D x 6"H Available in blue, pink or red. Sample shows the Crayon design.

Band in a Box - $ 29.99 A box of music bliss- Quality musical instruments are the real thing. 10 pcs in all - a triangle, maracas, a guiro, tambourine, finger cymbals and castanets. Made of child safe wood and metals to sound like real instruments (not plastic toys). We personalize the tambourine. Ages 3-10. 14 1/2"x11"x3 1/2"

Personalized Block Cart - $ 29.99 Cart full of fun - Children will have fun buliding things with these festive colorful blocks. 36 jewel colored natural wood blocks in various shapes will allow the imagination to run wild. The blocks store in a handy wheeled cart that can be pulled along to go anywhere your child goes. Cart is made of the same high quality wood. Complies to all U.S and Canadian safety regulations. Ages 1 1/2 and up. 9 3/4" x 11 1/2" x 2 1/4"

Personalized Rocking Horse White Large - $ 139.99 Giddy up - This traditional wooden rocking horse painted white makes an heirloom gift. Crafted of solid wood in finest detail and construction and accented with yarn hair, rope bridle and leather ears. Measures 36" x 28" x 11." Seat is 15" from ground. Ages 2 and up. We personalize the rockers. Some assembly is required. Can be ordered assembled for $25 extra (head will not be attached for shipping purposes). Sample shows our Butterfly and Flowers pastel design.

 

Holiday Treats

This item, from the on-line shop CyberCucina, is a party treat of sorts...

Pizza Party Kit - $ 24.95 Perfect for a birthday or Friday night party! Each Pizza Party Kit includes: 5 postcard invitations, recipes, 6 aluminum foil pizza pans, 6 paper hats, pizza sauce, yeast and pizza crust to make 6 pizzas.