Celebrate Italian Heritage with these Early Chapter and Middle-Grade Kid’s Books

What Was Pompeii?

written by Jim O’Conner

The morning of August 24, AD 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and Pompeii was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered the port city with intact buildings and beautiful mosaics. This easy-to-read account is gripping and includes photos of the ruins.

Where Is the Colosseum

written by Jim O’Conner

Emperor Titus opened the enormous Colosseum in AD 80 to host 100 days of games, and it will astound readers to learn what the ancient Romans found entertaining. Over 50,000 screaming fans watched gladiators battling each other to the death, men fighting exotic wild beasts, and even mock sea battles with warships floating on an arena floor flooded with water. By AD 476 the Roman Empire had fallen, and yet the ruins of the Colosseum remain a world-famous landmark of an unforgettable time.

Where Is the Vatican?

written by Megan Stine

It’s time to elect a new pope. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in front of St. Peter’s Basilica to learn who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church. A white puff of smoke from a chimney signals the cardinals–the “princes” of the church–have elected one of their own who will continue to be the leader of the faith that has been around for more than two thousand years. Author Megan Stine charts the beginning of Christianity and its hold on members of the faith as well as the countless struggles for power (one pope was poisoned by his own men!), the building of the Vatican and the creation of the Sistine Chapel, and the Secret Archives that hold papers the church has accumulated over the centuries.

Who Was Michelangelo?

written by Kristen Anderson

Michelangelo created some of the world’s most recognizable art, from the statue of David to the intricate ceiling fresco of the Sistine Chapel. Beyond his well-known painting and sculpting, he was a gifted poet and architect. Young readers can learn about the entirety of Michelangelo’s life, from his time as a young apprentice, his relationships with several Catholic popes and the Medici family, to his unwillingness to stop working into his late eighties. A perfect read for art lovers and fans of the Renaissance.

Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci?

written by Roberta Edwards

Leonardo da Vinci was a gifted painter, talented musician, and dedicated scientist and inventor designing flying machines, submarines, and even helicopters.  Yet he had a hard time finishing things, a problem anyone can relate to.  Only thirteen paintings are known to be his; as for the illustrated encyclopedia he intended to create, all that he left were thousands of disorganized notebook pages.  Here is an accessible portrait of a fascinating man who lived at a fascinating time—Italy during the Renaissance.

Kimchi & Calamari

written by Rose Kent

Joseph Calderaro has a severe problem. His social studies teacher has given him an impossible assignment: an essay about ancestors. Ancestors, as in dead people you’re related to.

Joseph was adopted, but the only sure thing he knows about his birth family is that they shipped his diapered butt on a plane from Korea, and he landed in New Jersey. How do you write about a family you’ve never known and at the same time manage all the other hassles that middle school mixes in the pot? What Joseph writes leads to a catastrophe messier than a table of shattered dishes—and self-discovery that will change his life recipe forever.

Vacation Under the Volcano (Magic Tree House #13)

written by Mary Pope Osborne

Who wants to vacation next to a volcano? Jack and Annie are about to find out when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to the days of the Roman Empire. They arrive in Pompeii and soon discover that it is the very day the city will be destroyed. Now Jack and Annie must race against time to find an ancient library before it is buried in ash!

Mischief Season (The Witches of Benevento)

written by John Bemelmans Marciano and Sophie Blackall

Readers are introduced to Benevento, an ancient Italian town known for its witches. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill witches; instead, they are spirits, fairies, ghosts, demons, and lesser-known varieties, including Manalonga, Clopper, and Janara. It is the Janara witches who come to Benevento, and they are impossible to spot because they can be anyone (even a neighbor or a relative). They transform at night by rubbing magical oil on themselves, which gives them powers, including flight and weather transformation.

Most of all, though, the Janara are mischief-makers, causing mayhem wherever they go. Five cousins, Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio, are hot on the trail of the Janara after Rosa is framed for masses of wicked mischief, including the barn roof being torn off and all of the hay being tossed out of the barn.

Twins Rosa and Emilio enlist the help of their cousins and visit ornery fortune-teller and healer Zia Pia in hopes of finding a solution to their Janara puzzle.

Mystery of the Roman Ransom

written by Henry Winterfeld

It seems the boys can get nothing right: Their teacher’s fiftieth birthday is long past (they should have done their math homework); the servant they bought as a present for his birthday isn’t just your run-of-the-mill Gaul slave but a courier running for his life; and, to top it all off, the message he’s carrying requests the assassination of a Roman senator—the father of one of the boys.

Fire at the Triangle Factory

written by Holly Littlefield and illustrations by Mary O’Keefe Young

This is the story of two fictional young girls who become involved in a real-life tragedy. On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company went up in flames, killing 146 workers, some of whom were as young as 14. Minnie, a Jewish girl, and Tessa, an Italian Catholic, are friends and coworkers at the factory. Littlefield relates the historical events through these likable characters with whom youngsters will quickly identify. She creates a mood with an earnest writing style. The girls’ different backgrounds are handled naturally, and in the end, readers are left with the feeling that these young women may have taught their elders a lesson in friendship.

Recipe for Adventure Naples!

written by Giada De Laurentiis

When Zia Donatella comes to live with the Bertolizzi family, little do Alfie and his older sister Emilia know what’s in store for them. Zia Donatella is determined to show the kids how a home-cooked meal is better than even the best take-out pizza or burrito. And when Zia’s plan transports Alfie and Emilia to famous food cities around the world, they learn firsthand how food can not only take you places but can also bring you back home. Alfie and Emilia find themselves transported to Naples, where they meet Marco, a young Italian boy on a critical mission to shop for the essential ingredients for his family’s entry in the city’s annual pizza fest contest. In their whirlwind search for the perfect items, Alfie and Emilia not only get a taste of Italy but also find themselves refereeing a family feud between Marco’s and his uncle’s family.

Daughter of Venice

written by Donna Jo Napoli

When Zia Donatella comes to live with the Bertolizzi family, little do Alfie and his older sister Emilia know what’s in store for them. Zia Donatella is determined to show the kids how a home-cooked meal is better than even the best take-out pizza or burrito. And when Zia’s plan transports Alfie and Emilia to famous food cities around the world, they learn firsthand how food can not only take you places but can also bring you back home. Alfie and Emilia find themselves transported to Naples, where they meet Marco, a young Italian boy on a critical mission to shop for the essential ingredients for his family’s entry in the city’s annual pizza fest contest. In their whirlwind search for the perfect items, Alfie and Emilia not only get a taste of Italy but also find themselves refereeing a family feud between Marco’s and his uncle’s family.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

written by Chris Grabenstein

When Kyle learns that the world’s most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town’s new library and has an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, he’s determined to be there! But the tricky part isn’t getting into the library—it’s getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must solve every clue and figure out every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route!

Roman Diary: The Journal of Iliona, A Young Slave (Historical Diaries)

written by Richard Platt and illustrated by David Parkins

Iliona never imagined that her sea voyage from Greece to Egypt would lead to Rome, but when she is captured by pirates and auctioned off as a slave, that’s where she lands. Readers are invited to view the wonders of Rome through Iliona’s eyes—the luxury, the excess, and politics.

Becoming Joe Dimaggio

written by Maria Testa

It’s 1936, and the Yankees have just hired a star center fielder whose name sounds like music. What could be a better time for Papa-Angelo’s grandson to be born? Christened after the legendary ballplayer, young Joseph Paul learns much at his Italian grandfather’s knee — about holding your breath in front of the radio during a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and having the audacity to dream big dreams. “Each poem is a perfect, gripping chapter,” says Kirkus Reviews in a starred review of this novel in verse, which honors the timeless bond between a grandson and his immigrant grandfather — and the process of finding one’s own place in a brave new world.

Detectives In Togas

written by Henry Winterfeld

Yes, Rufus wrote CAIUS IS A DUMBBELL on his tablet at school. Still, no, he did not break into the schoolroom, did not tie up his teacher, and certainly did not paint his slur about Caius on the Temple of Minerva (even if it is in Rufus’s handwriting). Rufus is doomed unless his six classmates can find out who is responsible. Every hour seems to bring a new, confusing clue . . . until the boys finally stumble upon someone who is not what he appears to be.

Postcards from Venice

written by Dee Romito

Skyler is in for a summer of adventure in Venice, Italy, as she pursues a dream opportunity in this hilarious MIX novel that’s a companion to The BFF Bucket List.

Skyler is about to go on the biggest adventure of her life. Her mother has been relocated to Venice, Italy, with the possibility of a long-term move. While there, Skyler takes on an informal internship and will be blogging about the city–a position that could lead to even bigger things if all goes well.

One of her fellow interns, Logan, is cool, cute, and Australian. But the other intern, Zara, seems determined to sabotage Skyler’s chances. And with a big assignment coming up, Skyler is already stumped.

Wishing she had someone to talk to, but the first person who comes to mind isn’t even on the same continent. Skyler knows that her BFF, Ella, would have all the answers, especially how to solve writer’s block. But after a summer bucket list that went awry, they didn’t leave on the best of terms. Thanks to technology, Skyler and Ella get a long-distance shot at mending things.

But when Skyler’s writing mistakes start to pile up, she isn’t sure if she’s up to the task. With the help of some Italian magic and her oldest friend, can Skyler learn to love her new city and stay connected to what matters most?

Penny from Heaven

written by Jennifer L. Holm

School’s out for summer, and Penny and her cousin Frankie have big plans to eat lots of butter pecan ice cream, swim at the local pool, and cheer on their favorite baseball team—the Brooklyn Dodgers! But sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Penny’s mom doesn’t want her to swim because she’s afraid Penny will get polio. Frankie is constantly getting into trouble, and Penny feels caught between the two sides of her family. But even if the summer doesn’t exactly start as planned . . . things can work out in the most unexpected ways!

Set just after World War II, this thought-provoking novel also highlights the prejudice Penny’s Italian American family must confront because people of Italian descent were “the enemy” not long ago.

Inspired by three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and the things that bring them back together.