The Book of Whys

Factual as well as whimsical, andhumorously illustrated, this is the first English-language publication of theanswers given by one of Italy's greatest and most beloved children's authors to children's questions about animals, nature, technology, and culture. Winner of the 2023 Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s English Translation Prize! Selected for the 2025 White Ravens catalog of notable international children's literature! Gianni Rodari is widely regarded as the father of modern Italian children's literature. A firm believer in the great intelligence of children, he worked both as a teacher and a journalist. For a number of years, children across Italy sent their questions to his weekly newspaper column—questions Rodari answered, most inventively, with rhymes and little poems. Why didn't he reply with facts alone?Because he wanted to provoke children into thinking about questions, norms, and language itself.