Papa Piccolo [Hardcover]

Piccolo is a tough, self-assured tomcat who prowls the canals of Venice, scavenging "a bit of sardine or a scrap of cheese." His independent lifestyle is disrupted, however, the day two abandoned kittens decide to tag along after him. Piccolo at first tries to foist the mischievous creatures off on a neighborhood female cat, but he eventually comes to relish his role as surrogate father. Though Talley's frequently playful text conveys the worthwhile message that men can be nurturing, too, her story may strike some readers as tepid. Maeno's watercolors pleasantly detail life on the canals, with their gondolas, shimmering water and august stone buildings. The use of the Venetian setting to convey to youngsters an exotic, foreign flavor is a notable choice. But her depictions of the cats themselves, often shown in close-ups, appear somewhat flat and cartoony. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Talley's frequently playful text conveys the worthwhile message that men can be nurturing too. -- Publisher's Weekly, June 22, 1992

A free-spirited Venetian tomcat becomes a father to two orphaned kittens. Colorful endpages give factual information about Venice and Italy.

In its second printing, PAPA PICCOLO is one of Marshmedia's all-time favorites.

The lion is the emblem of Venice, but the common cat rules its narrow streets and alleyways. A prince among these feline rulers is Piccolo, and what a fine life he leads! Especially after dark--when the streets are full of possibilities!

Then one night, Piccolo makes a discovery that threatens his carefree life and his independence and starts him on a new and special kind of adventure.

In these pages, you will also meet Caesar--Piccolo's older and somewhat cynical companion, and Sophia--the shoe shop cat--to whom Piccolo turns for advice when his life takes its unexpected turn. And you will meet two irresistible kittens--one spotted and one striped--who need a home and who help Piccolo discover his own tender heart.

Illustrator Itoko Maeno, who first visited Venice in 1977, returned to that city--which many call the most beautiful in the world--to capture its watery magic for this story. Her enchanting renderings of the canals, markets, crooked byways, boats, and bridges of Venice and her wise and witty portraits of the its two- and four-legged citizens will delight children and adults alike.

At a time when we are recognizing the need for boys as well as girls to develop nurturing skills, Piccolo appears as a welcome model for all children.

Carol Talley lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she works as a writer and editor. A former teacher of English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Talley has been writing educational materials for MarshMedia since 1989. She is also the author of CLARISSA, GUMBO GOES DOWNTOWN, and HANA'S YEAR.

Itoko Maeno is the illustrator of more than a dozen children's books, including CLARISSA, HANA'S YEAR, AMAZING MALLIKA, TESSA ON HER OWN and PLATO'S JOURNEY. Born in Tokyo, Japan, she received a B.A. in graphic design from Tama Art University. Since her arrival in the United States in 1982, Maeno has focused on watercolor illustration. This award-winning illustrator is the subject of MEET THE ARTIST: ITOKO MAENO, produced by Marsh Film Enterprises, Inc.