Days of the Blackbird

Beloved illustrator Tomie dePaola retells and embellishes this northern Italian tale.  Per the author's note the story stems from a real Italian mountain village (which dePaola depicts on the title page) where the last three days of January are the coldest of the year.  As the story goes, the doves would roost in the chimneys to keep warm and this turned them black.  DePaola's retelling also takes some inspiration from The Emperor and the Nightingale. 

Days of the Blackbird

Tomie dePaola 2005

This is Rome

Brilliant midcentury design and illustration are the hallmarks of  Miroslav Sasek's city books from around the world.  We have a couple I've picked up second hand and I thought it was cute that I found This is Rome on the same shelf as Just Being Audrey at the thrift store (it immediately brought to mind the movie "Roman Holiday"!)

This is Rome
M. Sasek 1960

The Glassmaker's Daughter

"There was once a beautiful city built on water.  Its palaces floated like birds in nests on the sea and its lamplight danced like fireflies across the ripples..."

The Glassmaker's Daughter

Dianne Hofmeyr

illustrated by Jane Ray 2017

So begins the tale of Daniela, the glassmaker's daughter who wouldn't smile.  In true folk tale fashion, a prize is awarded to whoever can make Daniela smile.  This brings out the best of Venice- the mask maker, the sword swallower, the lion tamer.  But it's not until a simple glass blower shows Daniella that the power to be happy lies within herself.  The girl finally begins to smile and laugh bringing the whole city with her.

A very nice read aloud book with pictures that will especially appeal to younger kids.