Priceless Gifts: A Folktale from Italy

by Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss, John Kanzler (Illustrator)

There is an old saying that good things come in small packages. In the days of the spice trade, this was certainly true, as merchants left Europe in pursuit of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, which were so rare at home that only the wealthiest could afford them. When Antonio, an Italian merchant, sets sail from Genoa to trade for spices, he discovers by accident that he harbors a treasure equally rare in the Spice Islands, where the king is looking for a solution to his rodent problem. The ensuing events prove that one man's surplus is another man's treasure. John Kanzler's luminous illustrations evoke the Old World setting of this traditional story and the rich backdrop of he spice trade. Sometimes the best gifts come in the smallest packages. This Italian folktales about generosity will teach readers the importance of citizenship, fairness and respect.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Cultural, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 21, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss are a husband-and-wife team, also known as “Beauty and the Beast Storytellers,” who have traveled the world since 1980 sharing their passion for the art of storytelling. They have co-authored several books and recordings that have won numerous awards including Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature (awarded by Bank Street College of Education), Parents’ Choice, National Parenting Publications Awards, and Storytelling World. Their Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom, used in the teaching of storytelling from elementary schools to college courses, won an Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice Award and was praised by award committee members as "an infectiously enthusiastic book on the methods and merits of teaching storytelling to children . . . imaginative, inspiring, easy to read, and tremendously engaging . . . a terrific book that will be a classic for years to come."

Mitch and Martha’s story collections include world tales that they have retold in a conversational manner so that children can easily understand and retell them. Parents and teachers will find a wealth of information on how to get children excited about reading, telling world tales, and making up their own stories at Mitch and Martha’s Web site: http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytell...

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This storybook had a very important message--being thankful for the gifts you receive--presented in a very gentle manner. it's an Italian folktale we read for school and would be a nice compliment to any exploration of the spice trade.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this folk tale because it shows the differences between cultures and the things that matter the most.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows the difference of what's important to different cultures.