When Leo won’t eat, his Nonna tells a story about a boy on the way to his Nonna’s one dark night. Wishing for light, the boy looks up and finds stars, shaped just like the stelline pasta in Leo’s bowl. “ Mangia, ” Nonna tells Leo, who begins to eat. The following week, Nonna continues the story: The boy is now walking along on an unpaved road and wishing for an easier path. When he looks down, there are paving stones, shaped just like the chiancaredde on Leo’s plate. “ Mangia. ” Another Sunday comes, and Nonna is serving occhi di lupo: wolf eyes pasta. The story continues: “Ah-oooooooo!” Week after week Leo and his extended family are captivated by Nonna’s storytelling, the food she cooks, and the power of both to bring everyone together in a delightful picture book featuring a story-within-a story and whimsical illustrations. “ Mangia !” (Ages 5–8)

Every Sunday, Leo and his family gather at Nonna's house for lunch. Everyone is hungry for Nonna's delicious homemade pasta ... except Leo, who'd rather play. But when Nonna passes around the bowls of soup with stellini - small, star-shaped noodles - she also serves the start of a story. Leo eats his lunch as he listens to the tale, which cleverly features that week's noodle shape, and over the next few weeks Leo and the whole family grow hungrier for more pasta ... and more of the story! A scrumptious book about food, family and the art of storytelling.