Not too long ago,I received an email in my inbox about ABC Italiano an Italian baby book by Sonya Caruso. I went to the website and immediately thought of my nephew (who is also our godson.) It didn’t take me long to buy a book for him and email the author telling her that not only did I think it was a GREAT idea but to keep a look out for a post on Italyville in the near furture.
This was a few weeks ago. I wanted to see the book and give it to my nephew before I posted about it. (Then I decided to give Italyville a face lift!) The book is wonderful and my brother and sister-in-law were very excited. Hopefully it won’t be long before my nephew starts adding some Italian to his vocabulary.
When my siblings and I were growing up we spoke mainly Italian in the house…mostly because my parent’s had only been in the US for a few years but I am forever grateful that we had the opportunity. Like Sonya,I want to teach my own children Italian someday. Sonya outlines many of the benefits of teaching children Italian in our Q&A below but for me,the most important reason is to preserve our culture and pass it along to the next generation.
GIVEAWAY
I think this subject is so important that I’ve decided to do something to help move it along. So,Sonya and I have been bouncing ideas back and forth and this is what we are going to do.
- For every comment I receive on this post (up to 50 comments,one per person) I will buy a book from Sonya.
- In addition,Sonya will extend 20% off a purchase of a book for Italyville readers by clicking on this link www.italianbabybooks.com/italyville and using promo code:Italyvilleamici
With the books I purchase (with your help 50),I will be sending 10 to Linda at Ciao Chow Linda,10 to Marie at Proud Italian Cook,10 to Claudia at Journey of an Italian Cook and 10 to Barbara at Dish n That who have all graciously agreed to help pass them along in various ways and get them in the hands of children so that we can help pass along the Italian language and our Italian culture to the next generation. Many thanks to these wonderful ladies for their help. With the remaining 10,I will give 1 book away to one of the first 50 people to leave a comment (chosen at random) and either donate the rest or give them away on Italyville in the future.
I really want to get to 50 comments/books in record time…so please leave a comment and any help my blogger friends can give me would be very much appreciated as well.
Many thanks to Sonya for her great ideas and hard work with this and hopefully future books! Gazie Sonya!!
Q&A with Sonya Caruso
What inspired you to create ABC Italiano?
My inspiration is il mio primo figlio,my son Luca! My husband is Italian from Cagliari,Sardinia. I love the Italian culture and with my husband being Italian,we think it is really important to raise Luca in an Italian speaking home. When Luca was born,I could not find many Italian baby books. I have a background in arts including ceramics,fashion design and painting,so it came natural to me to start drawing animals and pictures thinking of what Luca would have liked the best. Without knowing it,I found myself with my first ABC Italiano book. I thought that this sweet little book could have made other Italian moms happy. I love the idea of bringing joy in other Italian homes.
Did you speak Italian in your home as a child?
No,I learned Italian much later in life,when I met my husband. I have always loved the Italian culture,so he did not have to convince me to take the first step. But it was pretty challenging to learn a new language as an adult. Now,when I see how easily Luca switches from Italian to English,I wished I had the same opportunity.
Why is it important to you to pass along Italian to your children?
I am close to my husband’s Italian family,so it happens quite often to spend vacations with them (not to mention,they have a nice house by a gorgeous white sandy beach and we try to go there every summer). It is important for my son Luca to be able to communicate with his nonni and cousins. In addition,this opens him so many doors. We want Luca,one day,to be free to experience Italy as an Italian and have the freedom to choose to spend more time there,maybe for studying or even for living.
What are some of the benefits for children that learn to speak Italian?
First,it is proven that learning a Latin based language like Italian has improved children’s test scores time and again (see the “Experts” section on www.italianbabybooks.com). This includes having an easiness to learn other languages as well. Second,we live in a global world:kids with a broader cultural background,later in life,find themselves with a tremendous advantage when compared to monolingual kids. Last,but not least,the Italian heritage will be important for Luca to ground him and also connect with all those others with an Italian heritage. We don’t want him to miss such an opportunity.
How has ABC Italiano helped your son?
The book really helped Luca when he started talking. For the book,I chose those animals that I noticed made an impression on him,such as the ape (the bee) or the elefante (the elephant). Shortly after his first year of age he could identify all the images in the book and then he began to refer to them in everyday context. Today at 22 months,he is referring to the images in the book as he sings the alphabet song. This experience has been an inspiration for me and motivates me to create more books!
How did you decide what words/illustrations to use when creating your book?
Most of the words refer to things or animals that Luca was in contact with when he was learning to talk. For instance the elefante is the first animal he recollected from our many zoo visits. The corallo and the pecora come from Sardinia,where there is a lot of both.
Did you illustrate the book yourself?
Yes. The illustrations are meant to be kid friendly and simplistic also by the use of color. I wanted to give a look that was a little naive and childlike. My hope is that children will easily identify and relate to the images.
Did you find it difficult to create ABC Italiano?
No. It was a pleasure and I felt I was doing something that could benefit not only my family but many others.
Where can visitors and subscribers of Italyville find ABC Italiano?
ABC Italiano is available on the web at www.italianbabybooks.com. Please visit and tell your family and friends!
Tell us 3 interesting things about you.
I moved from the U.S. to Sardinia,Italy at the age of 28,crazy in love and speaking not a word of Italian. Two years later,I was fluent and happily married to the Italian that lured me to that beautiful place!
I love running and I have also run some marathons,crossing the finish-line with some competitive times.
I have a masters degree in Arts Administration (non-profit management),so I have lead several wonderful organizations toward their next stage of growth and worked with some fabulously talented,dedicated and creative individuals.
Do you have any additional books in the works?
Yes! Colori Italiani is in the works. I am very excited to get it out there,because I think it is a beautiful book. I love the idea of having another Italian language book available for the very early beginners!
Off to a grand start. I will:
a. send this link everywhere
b. report on it at The Examiner and on my blog
c. want to meet Sonya
d.make sure my cousins Luca (age 4) and Massimo (age 6) see this!
Trying to learn Italian in my 50′s –is a wee bit more difficult than when I learned French in high school –but I shall persevere. We are so cloistered in the USA –so anything that helps the Italian culture,children’s development and knowledge of this beautiful romance language gets my vote!
Oh! And tweeted and Facebooked it.
Joe –I am happy to help out with this wonderful book and noble enterprise. It’s so important to learn another language and getting started young is the best way. I will definitely help spread the word through my blog,and my network of Italian connections –both language classes and other outlets. Thanks for thinking of me in disseminating the books.
Joe,I already talked to the President of my Italian club and we’re all excited to be able to pass these books out into all the right hands. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help out with this important endeavor!
Oh,I forgot to mention that I love the new look of Italyville!
Oh this is great,Joe! I’m gonna post this on FB now. I hope you reach your 50 comments! How long is italyville promo code valid?
This is a lovely idea,Joe. (You’ll also have to put one aside for your and E’s first child.)
This is great! Thanks to Cherrye for spreading the word my way. I’ll also post this on Facebook and I look forward to making the purchase myself.
I love this and will head over to purchase my copy for my Simone now. I will also add this to my FB profile! Grazie!
Thanks also to Cherrye for the link to this…i have a son Lucah who is 6yrs old and now fluent in Italian too. I hope to grab a copy of this book also…
Grazie…
This is great. I think it’s so important to pass the language on to the next generation. I hope you reach 50!
I’m in my 7th year learning/speaking Italian (age 72)and met Sonya (pre-Luca) on a trip to Italy. I have shared the book w/members of my Italian class to share w/their grandchildren. Thank you,Joe,for helping to get the word out there. Can’t wait for “Colori Italiani”,Sonya. Buona fortuna!
Thanks for thinking of me for this wonderful endeavor,Joe. As a first-generation Italian-American,I know the importance of keeping our culture alive and passing it on to the younger generation. I regret not learning the language as a child,as my parents had only the best intentions to “Americanize”their children;plus it was a handy way for them to say things they did not want us to understand! Now I try my best to pick up where I left off as a child. I know some worthy organizations and amici who will put these books to good use. Grazie!
I have been following your blog for a long time now,but don’t think I’ve ever posted a comment. I really like your effort here to interact with other bloggers (some of which I also follow!) and make a positive impact for the future generation and the Italian language. A few years ago when I was studying Italian in college,I was interested in finding children’s books that were written in Italian to help me learn. My search was to no avail,however. Since then,I have found RCS Libri,which has a great selection of Italian-language books to search through. I have ordered from them twice now. At any rate,good on you for what you are doing here and keep up the good work!
Thanks for the article,Joe. I am also a reader who is commenting for the first time,and I hope you reach your comment goal for the book distribution.
My blog also has a little Italian American “flavoring”,I’d love it if you stop by and check it out. Your blog always has quality and useful content,and today is no different!
What a sweet book! I love it!
Great initiative Joe! B is for bravo!!!!
Terrific idea! S is for stupendo!
This is awesome,and I can’t wait to get a book for my daughter!
All the best to Sonya with her beautiful book. And Joe it’s very generous of you to spread her work around and bring to the attention of many. As some have posted,it is a struggle to master this beautiful language as a grown adult. I look forward to seeing Sonya’s future books.
Enjoyed the interview and your blog alot. I only wish that there were similar bks around when I was first learning the language,the ez/natural kid-way.Thanks!
What a fantastico idea! Would just love to win one of the books as I hope to have many grandchildren to teach the
language to and to also learn myself. I am Italian by
marriage only but cook like a true Italian or so my family
says.
Thanks.
Sandie Perillo tperillo@nycap.rr.com
WOW Joe! This is great! Ale and I often talk about wanting our children to learn both Italian and Spanish. It’s very easy to find Spanish children’s books here but not Italian. Although we don’t have kids yet,I would love to have this book and any future books that we could use when we do have a family. It’s important to both of us because our future kids nonni,zio’s &zia’s,cugini etc,don’t speak a word of English! Thank you Sonya for creating these books
Does Sonya have a blog?
Wonderful interview Joe and a wonderful book and generous offer from you! I’d love to win a book so that I could give it to my son so that he could start teaching my one year old grandson Italian. He is just beginning to learn words,so he is the perfect age for this book!
Wonderful interview. I would like the book for myself!
Oh thankfully a book for children to learn Italian. I can remember my grandmother teaching me the words while she stirred her big pot of macaroni gravy in her kitchen in New York. I know all my cousins would love the book for their grands too. I loved reading the interview above. I will tell my cousins about the book and I have tons of cousins:)
Joyce
É un buon regalo per i bambini!
Thank you Sonya for this wonderful thought,I did not know you are so talent on drawing such beautiful images easy and straight to be captured,congratulations! I Facebooked it quickly! My best wishes…
Donne,figli,che magica combinazione,da Cagliari con forza ed entusiasmo,continua….,con tanto affetto
I personally know Sonya and Riccardo and their love for each other is what made this book possible. Luca is a wonderful kid,he also speaks some words of Sardinian’s sayings…too funny!
Good job Sonya,San Diego and the Italian community is very proud of you!
Great job! I’ll be getting this book soon for my son Michael.
This books sounds wonderful! I too,am struggling with learning a new language after the tender age of “50″and am also teaching my 8-year-old grandson. I keep telling him by the time is graduates from HighSchool,we should be both be fluent so we can “run away to Italy”.
Can hardly wait to see a copy of the book.
Theresa
Dear Sonya,
All this is really great !!! the best way to bring peace in this crazy planet is to make kids talk.
A big hug to you and please keep on dreaming.
Ciao
Ghigo
What a great book!!
Sonya,
I loved what I saw of your new book! The illustrations are darling and I’m looking forward to seeing the next in the collection. Way to step up and take action when you saw the lack of Italian baby books for Luca. Congratulations and best wishes!
Would love to have one of these. I have an Italian preschool in New York (a small business). How about passing some of them on to us too? They sure will get into the right hands.
Grazie,
Carolina
Let’s keep those tots speaking Italian!
What an inspiring post Joe,and wonderful book. I’ll post this up on FB as well. GL on reaching your comment goal. Something tells me you’re a shoe-in!
Late to the party,but not to late to say how terrific the blog looks and what a great idea. Love the book the idea and looks to me like you’re on your way to getting 50 comments.. I will tweet and FB too..wanna see you buy all those books;-)
Great book! My nephew got one as a gift loved it!
Che bell’idea!
Non vedo l’ora di ricevere una copia (can’t wait to get a copy!)
I am an Italian teacher in the San Diego area,so I will share this with my students,many of whom are of Italian heritage.
I’ll also tweet and make a mention on my FB page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Italiano-With-Jodina/283199313007?ref=ts).
My web/blog site:http://ItalianoWithJodina.com
Grazie e in bocca al lupo!
Jodina
That would be good for my new Granddaughter{Isabella }! Thanks for sharing
Fantastico idea! Sonya,the book is very sweet,look forward to Colori Italiani!
Great! Thanks to my friend (Marco) I have found a nice book for my little daughter and a great website for recipes. Hurray for Italia and Joe!
Doing my part to help you get 50 comments albeit a little late,heartfelt just the same! Tante belle cose,calabriseiddu!
Late in commenting but I see you are still under 50. I think this is a great book! I teach preschoolers and always spend time in the children’s section of Italian bookstores looking for books like this. I have found very few books like this and think it is a great book to help children learn Italian. I look forward to reading about her next book also. Thanks so much for sharing!
I hope you reach your 50 comments-this looks like a wonderful book!
I think this is great Joe…good luck and I hope you reach your goal!
Good Luck with this GREAT idea. I love your website look,also.
That is a fantastic idea Joe- great on you for supporting Sonya and her book. I am French not Italian but as many of us who learn a second language later in life,I can appreciate the benefits of teaching a second language to children,especially when that language is part of their cultural heritage. What a fantastic opportunity for a kid today to be raised in a bilingual and bi-cultural environment. Speaking different languages open many doors and allow for a broader understanding and respect of differences. So I am all about language books for kids- who knows I might be inspired by Sonya to write one in French
! so well done to the two of you!!!
Good idea Joe,I am leaving a comment in exchange for calling espresso expresso every once in a while.
YEA Joe –You reached 50!
Okay,so you already reached 50,but just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with your idea. Awesome!!!
Good luck Joe
you already made it. but since i was here…
really amazing website
impressed every time i come here
My new grandson Luca is going to love this. Have a great trip to Calabria.