Nino by Valenti Angelo
"Nino" by Valenti Angelo is a regional fiction work that vividly recounts the experiences of a young boy growing up in Tuscany, Italy, during the early 1900s. The narrative is episodic and unfolds chronologically, starting with Nino's early days as an infant, where his mother, Allinda, works in the corn fields while he sleeps nearby. Key episodes capture Nino’s childhood milestones, such as his fourth birthday celebration, where he delights in a homemade bread dough rooster, and memorable family gatherings including fishing trips and holiday feasts.
The book highlights Nino's artistic sensitivity, illustrated through a drawing he creates after a candlelit procession, showcasing his burgeoning talent. Influenced by Jacobo, a local artist and musician, Nino's appreciation for beauty and art is evident throughout the story. As the narrative progresses, the family's anticipation of a new life in America is encapsulated in a letter from Nino's father, bringing both excitement and mixed emotions about leaving their home.
Angelo's distinctive illustrations play a crucial role in enhancing the storytelling, reflecting his own childhood memories. "Nino" stands out as Angelo's first book and serves as a poignant exploration of familial bonds, cultural heritage, and the life of Italian peasants.
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Subject Terms
Nino by Valenti Angelo
First published: 1938; illustrated
Type of work: Domestic realism
Themes: Family, friendship, and nature
Time of work: The early twentieth century
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: Casa Checchi, Tuscany, Italy
Principal Characters:
Nino , a young artistic boyAllinda , Nino’s loving, hard-working motherGrandfather Checchi , Allinda’s father, who is an entertaining storytellerJulio Ditto , Nino’s stubborn and impetuous friendSignora Maria Ditto , Julio’s mother and Allinda’s friendSignor Ditto , Julio’s father, who is hot-headed at timesJacobo , an artist and musician, who is a mentor to Nino
The Story
Nino is regional fiction based on its author’s own boyhood in Italy. The book is episodic and follows a chronological order. At the beginning of the story, Nino is in his first summer, sleeping or crying in his basket near his mother, Allinda, who is working in the corn fields in Tuscany, Italy. Another episode describes Nino’s fourth birthday, in which Allinda makes Nino a bread dough rooster, and he enjoys watching the dough rise. On another occasion, Grandfather goes fishing and catches a huge carp; Nino’s family invites friends Julio Ditto, who is Nino’s age, and Signor and Signora Ditto to eat with them. At another time, Julio gives Nino a baby pig. Allinda, however, will not allow a pig in the house, and although Grandfather makes a pen for it, Nino takes the pig to bed with him. When Allinda catches him, and makes him put the animal outside, the next morning she cannot find her son—he is outside, sleeping with his pet. Other episodes include a huge Easter feast prepared by Allinda and the sorting of olives at harvest time, in which Nino lends a hand.
A significant event is Nino’s trip to the city of Viareggio to have his picture taken to send to his father in America. Julio joins Nino, Grandfather, and Allinda on the trip, and both boys are excited about seeing the sights of the city. There is a storm on their way back and they have to stay in a barn overnight, as one must take a boat to travel between Nino’s village and Viareggio. Nino shows his sensitivity to beauty when he calls to his mother to see the sunrise from the barn window. Nino’s artistic skill soon becomes evident. He marches in the three-mile procession carrying a lighted candle to each of the fourteen shrines representing the fourteen stations of the cross; that night, taking very little time and using merely a piece of charcoal, he draws a picture of the procession. Grandfather recognizes the priest in the drawing by his bald head, and Allinda and Grandfather are amazed at how quickly Nino has rendered the scene. Jacobo, an artist and musician of the village, is Nino’s mentor. When Jacobo plays the violin, the beauty of the music sometimes makes Nino cry.
Nino and his family have an enjoyable Christmas, and on New Year’s eve of Nino’s eighth year, the postman comes through the deep snow to deliver a letter from America to Allinda. Nino’s father will be sending enough money for passage to America for Allinda and Nino. Grandfather decides he will go also. The postman informs the Dittos of the news, and the Dittos are invited to celebrate the New Year at Grandfather’s house. It is a sad time and yet a glad time for them. Then it is a time of preparation and waiting. They are busy storing up memories, being apprehensive, and also eager to see the father and America.
Context
Nino was the first book written by Valenti Angelo. He had illustrated many books and was known as a designer. In Nino, the distinctive, vivid illustrations, printed in a gray-green color, complement the print on the cream-colored page. The illustrations are of singular importance to this book since the author is re-creating memories of his early boyhood in Italy. Dobry (1934) by Monica Shannon, the 1935 Newbery Medal-winner, is similar to Nino in that it is about a Catholic peasant boy, Dobry, who lives in another country, Bulgaria, and longs to be a sculptor.
Angelo wrote a sequel to Nino entitled Golden Gate (1939), drawing from his experiences and memories of his early days in the United States. Paradise Valley (1940) concerns itinerant families who because of unemployment or seasonal work must live in temporary quarters. Angelo himself lived in New York’s Bleecker Street neighborhood for just a short time, but his memory of the “Little Italy” of New York City became the subject of The Bells of Bleecker Street (1949). As an author, Angelo is probably best known for his first book, Nino. In Nino, Angelo skillfully communicates to the reader both verbally and visually the life of the Italian peasant in the early 1900’s.