#ItalianLitMonth n.3: Three Fun, Fascinating Italian Books for Children and Young Adults

Posted on by Leah Janeczko

by Nanette McGuinness

What do the books that I translate from Italian into English have in common? They’re fascinating and fun—and they also vary greatly. Take, for example, my three most recent translations from this lyrical language, which range from a nonfiction picture book to a fictional graphic novel for ages 8-12 (middle grade, in the lingo of the trade), to a graphic novel biography.

Curious to find out more? Here are some details:

Released in March 2024, If I Were a Fungus is an offbeat picture-book for ages 4-8. It offers an engaging look at this little-known but ubiquitous lifeform. With brightly colored, block-style illustrations and excellent back matter, If I Were a Fungus is a great introduction to the amazing, little-known world of fungi, which pop up everywhere in a wide variety of shapes and forms. Are they plants? Are they animals? Neither, really…but whatever they actually are, as readers will discover, “There’s always a fungus among us.”

  • Picture book written and illustrated by Gaia Stella
  • Translated from the Italian by Nanette McGuinness
  • Original title: Se fossi un fungo (2024)
  • 48 pages
  • Publisher: Millbrook Press (US, 2024)
  • ISBN: 979-8765627136
  • Treat your bookshelf to a taste of Italy! Order the book here.

Links:

Published in October 2023, Ellie in First Position is a hilarious, charming slice-of-life graphic novel for middle grade readers about a young girl who desperately dreams of taking ballet. At the start of the story, her parents have split up and her mom has moved the family to a new town. Ellie loves comics and movies but doesn’t fit in well with the kids at her new school. She soon finds herself the target of a mean-girl bully. Her mom’s solution to everything? Take up a sport to make friends. The only problem with that plan is that Ellie is hopeless at sports. Hilarious mishap after mishap ensues, as Ellie gamely tries sport after sport, all the while pining to learn ballet, which her mom adamantly opposes. Eventually, though, Ellie makes some friends, defeats her bully, has her first crush, and persuades her mom to let her take ballet. It’s a heartwarming end to a sweet story about self-acceptance and self-discovery.

  • Graphic novel written by Brian Freschi and illustrated by Elena Triolo
  • Translated from the Italian by Nanette McGuinness
  • Original title: Elettra (2021)
  • 176 pages
  • Publisher: Marble Press (US, 2023)
  • ISBN: 979-8765627136
  • Treat your bookshelf to a taste of Italy! Order the book here.

Links:

Upcoming in November 2024, Audrey Hepburn is a biographical graphic novel for YA and adult readers that tells the story of this famous Oscar-winning actress. The book follows her from childhood during World War II, to her acting career, motherhood, and then UNICEF ambassador. Like Ellie, she was initially smitten with ballet, but when that didn’t work out, she turned to acting—an apparent overnight success that took hard work, training, dedication and study. While no secrets or surprises lurk, this is a wonderful graphic-novel portrait of a beautiful woman whose talent, looks, and heart turned heads around the world during her lifetime and continue to do so to this day. Adding to the album’s feeling of authenticity, Hepburn’s son provided the preface.

  • Graphic novel written by Michele Botton and illustrated by Dorilys Giacchetto
  • Translated from the Italian by Nanette McGuinness
  • Original title: Audrey Hepburn (2022)
  • 176 pages
  • Publisher: NBM Comics Biographies (NBM Graphic Novels)
  • US release upcoming on November 5, 2024
  • ISBN: 9781681123462
  • Treat your bookshelf to a taste of Italy! Pre-order the book here.

These three books represent only a tiny sampling of what is available in the world of Italian literature in translation for children and adults. With such an exciting variety to choose from, readers will find a wide selection of book-universes to dive into. Why wait? Find inspiration, joy and information in Italian books in translation today!

Award-winning translator, opera singer, and podcast host Nanette McGuinness has translated over 100 books and graphic novels for children and adults from French, Italian, German and Spanish into English, including the much-loved Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novels, as well as Tiki: A Very Ruff Year (Eisner and Harvey Award nominee) and Alice on the Run: One Child’s Journey Through the Rwandan Civil War (GLLI YA Translated Book Prize Honor Book, Mosaic Prize winner, Excellence in Graphic Literature Finalist, Harvey Award nominee). Accolades have also gone to her translations of Magical History Tour: Vikings and Magical History Tour: Gandhi (both Excellence in Graphic Literature Finalists), Luisa: Now and Then (Stonewall Honor Book; GLLI YA Translated Honor Book; YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens) and California Dreamin’: Cass Elliot Before the Mamas & the Papas (Harvey Award; YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens).

More at https://athenatranslations.nanette.biz

Follow Nanette on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @NanetteMcGuinness and Bluesky @NanetteMcG

“It’s so wonderful to see Italy as the country of honor in Frankfurt this year!” — Nanette McGuinness

Italian Lit Month’s guest curator, Leah Janeczko, has been an Italian-to-English literary translator for over 25 years. From Chicago, she has lived in Milan since 1991. Follow her on social media @fromtheitalian and read more about her at leahjaneczko.com.