Telephone Tales

A hundred years have gone by since the birth of the author who revolutionised literature for children – and not only for them. To celebrate Gianni Rodari’s birthday, we therefore propose another of his books – one of the great classics of the many that have thrilled entire generations and that will continue to do so in future. His Telephone Tales is more than a story, for it is a whole collection: The Man Who Bought the City of Stockholm, A Violet at the North Pole, The Blue Traffic Lights, Trolley Number 75, and many more stories told by a father who travels a lot but who wants to be close to his beloved little daughter, at least with a phone call, every evening. The generous collaboration between Rodari and Bruno Munari can also be seen in the pages of this book, in which the lively illustrations by the multi-talented Milanese artist evoke incredible worlds that travel along the slender wires of old-fashioned telephones. In our present-day world, on the other hand, we might imagine the father saying goodnight over a smartphone screen, even from the other side of the world.   Favole al telefono Gianni Rodari Drawings by Bruno Munari Giulio Einaudi Editore, first edition 1962