Mio nonno era un ciliegio
(My grandfather was a cherrytree) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Tonino is four years old. He has two grandparents in the city and two grandparents in the country. However, he prefers by far to spend his days in the countryside, climbing trees with his grandfather, with whom he has a lot of fun. Here Tonino can also find the Happy CherryTree, which has been planted to celebrate the birth of his mother, Happiness. A few years later, his life begins to change in a way he doesn’t like at all, and, in order to preserve his memories, Tonino will find himself engaged in a long but peaceful fight to save the Happy CherryTree.
Edited by: Centro MeTRa - Università di Bologna (Italy)
Comment:
This famous novel, created by the prestigious writer Angela Nanetti, has won several awards and it has been translated into twelve languages. It tells the story of a brave, affectionate, and sensitive boy and of his family. In particular, the themes of illness and death are approached with tenderness and poetry, as they are presented through the metaphor of the cherry tree (the grandfather dies but Tonino is convinced that he continues to live through the cherry tree). Unlike many other stories, in which the girls are mainly represented through their family connections, here the little male protagonist is the one who acts as the pivot of the whole family, which thanks to him manages to overcome the most difficult moments. (First published in Italy in 1998)