My Nonno loves by Adelle Frittitta & Claudia Frittitta

A wonderful celebration of family and in particular a grandfather’s place in the family is presented in this loving homage to a man who is everything to his grandaughter.

Each double page beings with ‘My nonno is’ and then goes on to show one aspect of the tie between the girl and her grandfather.

The day starts with coffee. Nonno makes it in his cook top espresso, taking in the smell that wafts through the kitchen telling the girl how happy the day will be starting with his coffee. They sit at the table for breakfast, Nonno reading the paper, chuckling at some of the articles. His granddaughter loves going to the garden with him, surveying the growth of the seeds they have planted together. The basil and tomato doing well, as nonno loves watching them grow. Nonna makes his day special, as he remembers their courtship and marriage. His family is most important and they are invited around for sharing food and listening to his jokes, especially on special days which celebrate something that has happened within the family. He passes on stories and songs of their family, those Italian traditions passed down through the generations. But along with all of this, he loves listening, and the pair talk about their collections and some of the pieces are used to create a mobile. But of course, all the things he loves, the most important is his granddaughter.

This lovely book extols the relationship between grandfathers and their grandchildren, here shown in all its glory as everything he does they do together. Each page shows another area of the family, breakfast, lunch, Nonna in the kitchen, the garden, family meals and get togethers, and the shed. Everything they do sings out the virtues of a close knitted family, doing so many things together.

Illustrated by Adelle’s sister, Claudia, the text and images all show a loving relationship within the family. Each page shows another aspect of the household, with lots of detail to search out. I love the image in the centre of the book showing the family celebrating, with everyone there, eating and sharing lots of dishes, singing Italian songs, chatting, laughing and hugging, passing on traditions and love.

Themes: Migrants, Humour, Family, Grandparents.

Fran Knight