Italy

Leonardo da Vinci wanted to create the perfect smile on the Mona Lisa, to find out how do birds fly or clouds form, design a bridge, study teeth and draw the human body, invent a tank, submarine, parachute, and discover why the sky is blue.
“I wanted to learn about everything!”
(Picture book)

Biography of the guy who did it all. Da Vinci was a painter, inventor, engineer, pageant director, sculptor, musician. He observed nature, studied the human body, drew maps and designed weapons. (Chapter book)

Little Katie gets in the picture, when the Mona Lisa invites her to climb into Italian Renaissance paintings. But everything doesn't go quite right, and it takes an angel to soothe three angry Botticelli dancers and a roaring lion of Venice. Charming illustrations, fun for little kids. (Picture book)

Excellent history of the Colosseum through the ages, from the beginnings to Rome, to rise of emperors, how the stadium was built, spectators, games, gladiators, plus hidden gem facts – the Colosseum had snack bars, water fountains and bathrooms, and more. (Chapter book)

Excellent introduction to ancient Rome – history, emperors (complete timeline), soldiers and senators, family life, Roman homes and baths, the Colosseum, gladiators and chariot races, food and dinner parties, gods and religion, trade and travel. Artifacts, detailed illustrations and photos. (Picture book)

Explore the works of five Renaissance inventors, including three Italians – Leonardo da Vinci, Leon Battista Alberti, Galileo Galilei, with hands on projects to make, experiments to do. (Illustrated chapter book)

Illustrated history of Pompeii from the eruption to buried city, rediscovered and excavated centuries later. Also, find out about daily life in Pompeii – shopping, fashion, housing, theater, and gladiator games. (Illustrated chapter book)

Jack and Annie travel back in time to Pompeii 79 A.D. to retrieve a papyrus scroll and narrowly escape the burning lava from Mt. Vesuvius. (Easy reader)

A gondolier family glides through Venice, drifting past winged lions, bridges, peaceful cobbled streets. "Drift down streets of water, baby. Close your sleepy eyes." A lovely book for little kids. (Picture book)

Strega Nona, a kindly grandma, has a magic pasta pot. Big Anthony gets into trouble when he says, "Bubble, bubble pasta pot, boil me some pasta nice and hot." Fun for little ones. (Picture book)

In Milan, delicious panettone, a sweet bread, is a specialty – here's a sweet story about how panettone came about. There was a baker named Tony, who had a daughter, who fell in love with a clever nobleman ... (Picture book)

Take a trip through Rome, old and new – ruins of the Roman forum, Emperor Constantine's foot, Piazza Venezia and the "wedding cake" monument, biggest church in the world, St. Peter's, secret passageways of Castel Sant'Angelo, legend of Santa Maria Maggiore, and more. Whimsical illustrations capture the panoramic history and fun in Rome today, this is a classic. (Picture book)

On Monday
We drive by the Colosseum.
On Tuesday
We ride through the streets on scooters.

Discover the city, ride scooters, enjoy gelato, visit St. Peter's, fun for little ones. (Board book)

Kids can read for themselves about Italy, famous for its boot shape. Spend the day with Pia, meet her family, go to school, find out about cities and islands, learn about long history of Italy, play soccer and eat typical Italian food. (Easy reader)

Spend the day in Italy. How to say good morning, bike to the park to play football (soccer), panini sandwiches for lunch, gelato for a snack, count in Italian uno, due, tre, time to say good night – Buonanotte. Charming illustrations, lots of fun details. (Board book)