Piccolo

by Dan Yaccarino

Overview

Ciao! Enter the endearing world of Piccolo, a problem-solver whose optimism, boundless enthusiasm, and love of gelato inspires his animal friend community.

Piccolo the stylish shrew is a list maker. On his list are all the favorite places he is eager to visit.  As his day begins he runs into his pal Mr. Rosso who needs help carrying his artwork to the museum. Piccolo can’t believe his luck: the museum is on his list of favorite places! In no time at all, Piccolo is helping all his friends solve problems as he zips around the city on his scooter. But with so many ways to lend a hand, Piccolo might not have time to visit the one place on his list he loves the most.  

Full of adventure, culture, and some tasty hazelnut gelato, this endearing tale of friendship and teamwork proves that helping others is the most powerful triumph of all.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316574563
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/30/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 11.35(h) x (d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Dan Yaccarino has been making books and entertainment for children for more than 30 years, including the animated series Oswald and Doug Unplugs, and the picture books Unlovable, Five Little Pumpkins and The Luna Sisters series. Dan’s children’s books have been named to the Texas Bluebonnet list, the Kirkus Best Children’s Book list, the New York Times 10 Best Illustrated list, and the Bologna Ragazzi. He is also the recipient of ALA Notable Books and state awards. An Italian American, Dan’s heritage inspired him to write and illustrate All the Way to America, which depicted his family’s immigration from Sorrento to New York City, and now Piccolo. He invites you to visit him online at danyaccarino.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ “Piccolo, a “very helpful” shrew sporting a jaunty scarf and cap, begins the day sipping coffee on a balcony overlooking an Italian cityscape rendered in golds, yellows, and oranges that radiate with promise. …Working in saturated, digitally enhanced brush and ink, Yaccarino creates a world in which helping others facilitates la dolce vita—and dolci, too.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A more fervent picture-book tribute to Italy may not exist. Yaccarino’s bold artwork makes excellent use of texture and shading; small joys abound, too...this paean to Italian lands, culture, and food is a perfect read....A love letter to Italy at its best and a snazzy charmer of a book through and through."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-05-30
Get ready to embark on an enchanting trip through Bella Città (Beautiful City).

The splendors of Italy are on full display as dapper shrew Piccolo decides to enjoy a day dedicated to visiting his favorite places. An initial trip to Miss Dolce’s Gelateria is interrupted, however, when he hears cries for help from his vulpine pal, Mr. Rosso. The fox needs to move his painting to the museum, and since the institution is on Piccolo’s list of places to visit, he’s more than happy to assist. What follows is a series of sequences in which Piccolo aids friends and neighbors, visiting a fountain, the ancient ruins, a theater, and a garden along the way. A more fervent picture-book tribute to Italy may not exist. Yaccarino’s bold artwork makes excellent use of texture and shading; small joys abound, too, as in the clever references to famous artworks found in the book’s art museum (noteThe Vitruvian Man depicted as an octopus). Italian words appear throughout; translations are included at the book’s end, though some might take issue with gelato being equated with ice cream, as the two are made differently. Even so, this paean to Italian lands, culture, and food is a perfect read for anyone planning a trip there or for those who simply wish to read their children a tale soaked in the sights and sounds of the country.

A love letter to Italy at its best and a snazzy charmer of a book through and through.(Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews