The Adventures of Cipollino by Gianni Rodari, Dasha Tolstikova and Antony Shugaar - OPTIONAL

The Adventures of Cipollino by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova and translated from Italian by Antony Shugaar, 244 pages. Enchanted Lion, 2025, originally published in Italy in 1980. $30 

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (imprisonment of innocent vegetables, threats of hanging, peril, capital punishment) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

In a world of sentient fruits and vegetables, onion-headed boy Cipollino witnesses the arrest and imprisonment of his father (because he smells bad), along with the rest of the adults in the village who tried to defend him. Cipollino leads the other children - including a royal boy named Marichino - in a grand adventure to rescue the villagers and ultimately, hopefully save his father. 

I liked this more than I expected. It's a bit odd, but the story is charming, and I found myself reading passages aloud. The translation is probably the best part. Shugaar has somehow translated Italian into wonderful English wordplay that makes Cipollino so much fun to read. I don't see a kid picking it up - it's a heavy and long book (from the cover, I thought it was a picture book, while illustrated, it is a lengthy children's novel). But I would absolutely recommend Cipollino as a read-aloud bedtime story for an older reader - it would be fun to share. 

Lisa Librarian