Alban’s Days

Milo feels lost. His parents do nothing but argue, the tension at home is suffocating, and he worries so much that he cannot get to sleep at night. I giorni di Alban —the latest children’s novel by the Milanese writer Guia Risari, a finalist in the 2025 Premio Campiello Junior for the 7–10 age category—opens with a mysterious, nocturnal scene. On this difficult night, when no game offers comfort, little Milo receives an unexpected visitor: the moon itself, in the form of a wrinkled old lady. She assures him that he won’t be alone for much longer, for a friend is about to arrive. And the very next day, her prophecy comes true. At a bustling local market, Milo encounters Alban, a soft teddy bear with jointed limbs, and for both of them it’s love at first sight. While there is no let-up in the arguments at home, Milo and Alban embark on a whirlwind of adventures together. They explore a microscopic snow-covered village, swim in the sea while being chased by a giant octopus, and even meet Don Quixote and Robinson Crusoe in person. But, more than anything, they meet Gilda, an elderly lady who lives all alone in a crumbling house, tucked away in the darkest, scruffiest alley in the neighbourhood. With her wisdom, Gilda helps Milo understand what it means for people to grow old and change—helping him imagine what his parents are going through. The book beautifully blends reality and fantasy, just as children do in their games. The story unfolds on two levels—the happy, carefree realm of fantasy and the more troubling real world of a child witnessing the slow breakdown of his parents’ marriage. It is a tale of emotional development, celebrating the value of boredom and the transformative power of friendship. Alban’s days show how crucial “empty” time is for children, giving them the space to tap into their inner resources, process their emotions, and build parallel worlds of their own. A book worth reading for many reasons—not least for the exquisite way in which the author allows us to see through Milo’s eyes, as he watches his world change in ways he cannot yet understand.

Reading age: from 8 years

I giorni di Alban
Guia Risari, illustrations by Francesca Gambatesa
Giunti, 2023