THE LITTLE RABBIT PADELLINOOnce upon a time in the small town of Carotopoli, there was a retired rabbit named Padellino. He lived in a small house at the end of a large vegetable garden.One morning, as he was looking out of a small window scratching his head as if he had a big problem, he saw three carrots, two celery ribs, four tomatoes, an onion, an eggplant, and a potato rolling behind the group coming down the path towards his house. The path was slightly downhill. "How wonderful!" he exclaimed. "With these fresh vegetables, I can try cooking so I won't get bored anymore! How come I never thought of this before?!”Padellino, who had been the station master of Carotopoli before retiring, knew about trains, schedules, and everything needed for that job, but he had never cooked before; he usually only ate carrots.Asking around, he obtained a frying pan and a pot with their lids, all second-hand and not used for who knows how long. But he needed them and, after a good cleaning, they were ready for use, better than new. He made two ladles from tree bark and the kitchen sprang into action. The fire blazed from the small stove like never before, and the flames multiplied. The little rabbit, with great passion, began experimenting with tasty and fragrant dishes.The large garden had always been cultivated by some retired elders. They immediately approved of little Padellino's idea, providing him with all the seasonal vegetables. First, a means of transportation was needed; they fixed up an old wheelbarrow that had a large rubber wheel in front and made it slide towards the house. Satisfied and filled with goodness, the elders, ready for delivery, first heard whistling, then a light breeze, a sudden puff, and, as if by magic, the wheelbarrow sped along the path. With each load, a whistle, a new puff, and the wheelbarrow went. The elders were amazed, barely holding the handle and not getting tired.But they weren’t too surprised. In a giant tree that dominated one side of the garden, an elf had always lived there because of an old enchantment. Perhaps he was using his magic to help the elders. Because only they, at rare moments, had heard magical music in the air and sensed his mysterious presence.On the other side of the large garden, there was a farm with a chicken coop. The elders told the farmer what was happening. "What great news," he said, and was happy to provide fresh eggs to rabbit Padellino every day. A pleasant smell spread around, other little rabbits passing by were invited to taste. "Mmm... good," they would say and lick their whiskers.They volunteered as helpers, setting up outdoors on six small tables, using cut tree trunks. More rabbits came, built chairs with flowered backrests and legs made of intertwined branches. They improvised plates and cups using rolled and shaped vegetable leaves artistically. "Well done, well done," applauded little Padellino."Why don't we open more small restaurants nearby?" they said, and the girls and boys who would come to taste our dishes would pay: "for an appetizer, a bunch of daisies; for a main course, five primroses; for a sandwich, some violets; for a second course, unfaded poppies; dessert will be free. And we will be happy to work for them."From there, they thought of having the children of the whole town taste the food. They agreed, making deliveries on multicolored scooters driven by rabbits. Some retired grandmothers were also contacted to organize the deliveries. They gladly agreed. They put on hats adorned with vegetables and took service: "don’t drive too fast, stop at the stops," and so on. In the whole town, there was heavy traffic of rabbits on scooters having fun and waving: "hello, we're coming... hello, hello, make room." Cars and bicycles made way, and the traffic lights turned green at their arrival.Everything was going well, when one morning the tax office woke up, perhaps it had suffered from insomnia at night or perhaps it hadn't digested dinner, who knows...!!! The clerk began to send taxes to be paid by rabbit Padellino. Luckily, the morning the first payment request arrived, the sun was cheerful and smiling, so he got a little less angry. He had plenty of charm to sell, but he didn’t want to pay; his greatest pleasure was to give everything away for free.The elf, who was always wandering around the garden, learned about little Padellino’s problem. He was a free spirit, but, as in fairy tales, he possessed something magical and it was a flute. Playing it, his music reached other magical creatures like him and by magic enchantment, they appeared immediately. Of course, they were invisible, but with their magic, they were ready to help the little rabbit. Every envelope that arrived at the post office was blown back with a puff, flying back and opening up. The sky seemed to be covered with paper that, by magic, made its way back to the tax office. In the following days, the returned documents piled up and up on the desk. It was a real mystery, and the head of the tax office realized the mistake. What to do with those papers! And then a great idea flashed through his mind. He gathered the town’s gnawing mice, who in no time chewed up all that paper and made bags of confetti for the carnival.You should know that the elf was in possession, in addition to the magical flute, of a branch covered in equally magical leaves, obtained from a centuries-old tree, which in its cavity hid the secrets about the life of these fantastic creatures. For each leaf of the magical branch, the elf could grant a wish. Word had spread, so that the children of the town made a proposal to him. The elf, having become their friend and no longer invisible, listened to them. Their wish was to send flying balloons, painted in the colors of the rainbow, around the world to bring food to those who had none. Meanwhile, little Padellino continued to cook as much as possible together with his assistants. Each leaf of the enchanted branch, with its magic, could guide a balloon to deliver food cooked by the rabbits with great passion, to children in every corner of the world. And so it was done. Meanwhile, the grandmothers had woven small wicker baskets and, inside, placed one by one, in a fistful of soil, seedlings taken from the large garden. The baskets, tied to the flying balloons, reached their destination. The enchantment had no end; the children took the seedlings which, put in the ground, watered and grown, would bear their fruits, and in turn, other seeds sprouted.As the balloons loaded with all the goodness arrived, the clapping of the children's hands echoed from every part. Tasting that delicious food was like a dream come true, bringing joy and happiness. The rabbits and the elf discovered that the true power of magic lies in kindness and helping others.The children wrote thanks on the balloons and with a farewell hug and a push, they helped them rise into the air and off around the world. The elf with his branch of magical leaves had fulfilled the great wish, making all the girls and boys happy.In Carotopoli, a big party was organized in honor of the little bunny Padellino and his helpers, the grandfathers, the grandmothers, and even the farmer took part. He made available the farmyard, which was filled with songs, dances, and the telling of folk verses. Every type of food created by Chef Padellino was on the festively laid tables, and at the end of the evening, there was a grand fireworks display as a sign of joy and gratitude. All the guests were surprised and enchanted.The elf, after the party, which he attended from the giant tree, spreading magic everywhere, returned to being invisible but remained to protect the large garden of Carotopoli and obviously, everyone lived happily ever after — each helping others as best they could.

IL CONIGLIETTO PADELLINOC’era una volta nella cittadina di Carotopoli, un coniglietto in pensione di nome Padellino. Abitava in una casetta in fondo a un grande orto coltivato a verdure.Una mattina, mentre stava guardando fuori da una finestrella grattandosi il capo, come se avesse un grande problema, vide arrivare sul sentiero tre carote, due costole di sedano, quattro pomodori, una cipolla, una melanzana e una patata che ruzzolava dietro al gruppo. Si dirigevano verso la sua casetta; il sentiero era leggermente in discesa. "Che meraviglia!" esclamò. "Con queste verdure fresche posso provare a cucinare così non mi annoierò più! Come mai non ci avevo pensato fino ad ora?!”Padellino, che prima di andare in pensione era stato il capo stazione di Carotopoli, si intendeva di treni, orari e tutto il necessario per quel lavoro, ma non aveva mai cucinato prima d'ora; di solito si nutriva solo di carote.Chiedendo in giro, si procurò una padella e una pentola con i relativi coperchi, tutto di seconda mano che non veniva usato da chissà quanto tempo. Ma a lui servivano e, dopo una bella ripulita, erano pronti per l’uso, meglio che nuovi. Costruì due mestoli con la corteccia di un albero e la cucina entrò in funzione. Il fuoco si sprigionò dal piccolo fornello come non mai, e le fiammelle si moltiplicarono. Il coniglietto, con grande passione, iniziò a sperimentare piatti gustosi e profumati.Il grande orto era da sempre coltivato da alcuni nonni in pensione. Approvarono immediatamente l’idea del coniglietto Padellino, fornendogli tutte le verdure di stagione. Per prima cosa, era necessario un mezzo di trasporto; aggiustarono una carriola ormai fuori uso, che aveva una grande ruota gommata davanti e che la faceva scivolare verso la casetta. Soddisfatti e riempita di ogni bontà, i nonni, pronti per la consegna, sentirono prima fischiettare, poi un leggero vento, un soffio improvviso e, come per incanto, la carriola andava veloce lungo il sentiero. Ad ogni carico, un fischiettio, un soffio di nuovo e la carriola andava. I nonni erano stupiti, tenevano appena il manubrio e non facevano fatica.Ma non erano poi tanto sorpresi. In un albero gigante che dominava su un lato dell’orto, viveva da sempre un elfo, che era lì per un incantesimo. Forse stava usando la sua magia per aiutare i nonni. Perché solo loro, in rari momenti, avevano sentito nell’aria una musica magica e percepito la sua misteriosa presenza.Dall’altra parte del grande orto, c’era una fattoria con un pollaio. I nonni raccontarono al contadino cosa stava succedendo. "Una bella novità," disse, e fu felice di fornire ogni giorno le uova fresche al coniglio Padellino. Un buon odore si diffondeva in giro, altri coniglietti, che passavano da quelle parti, furono invitati ad assaggiare. "Mmm... buono," dicevano e si leccavano i baffi.Si proposero come aiutanti, apparecchiarono all’aperto su sei piccoli tavolini, usando tronchi di alberi tagliati. Arrivarono altri coniglietti, costruirono delle seggioline con spalliere fiorite e gambe fatte di rami intrecciati. Improvvisarono piatti e bicchieri usando foglie d’ortaggi girate ed arrotolate, dandogli una forma ad arte. "Bravi, bravi," applaudì il coniglietto Padellino."Perché non apriamo altri piccoli ristoranti nelle vicinanze?" dissero, e le bambine e i bambini che verranno ad assaggiare i nostri piatti pagheranno: "per un antipasto, un mazzetto di margherite; per un primo, cinque primule; per un panino, delle viole; per un secondo, dei papaveri che non siano sfioriti; il dolce sarà gratis. E noi saremo felici di lavorare per loro."Da lì, pensarono di far assaggiare il cibo ai bambini di tutta la cittadina. Si misero d’accordo, facendo consegne su monopattini multicolori guidati da coniglietti. Furono contattate alcune nonne, anche loro in pensione, per organizzare le consegne. Accettarono di buon grado. Si misero in testa un cappello adornato di ortaggi e presero servizio: "non guidate troppo veloci, fermatevi allo stop," e via dicendo. In tutta la cittadina c’era un gran traffico di coniglietti su monopattini che si divertivano e salutavano: "ciao, stiamo arrivando... ciao ciao, fate posto." Le macchine e le biciclette si facevano da parte e i semafori diventavano verdi al loro arrivo.Tutto procedeva per il meglio, quando una mattina si svegliò l’ufficio delle tasse, forse nella notte aveva sofferto d’insonnia o forse non aveva digerito la cena, boh... boh...!!! L’impiegato addetto iniziò ad inviare tasse da pagare e pagare al coniglietto Padellino. Fortuna che, la mattina che arrivò la prima richiesta di pagamento, il sole era allegro e sorridente, così si arrabbiò un po' di meno. Lui che di simpatia ne aveva da vendere, ma di pagare non ne voleva sapere; il suo grande piacere era dare tutto gratis.L’elfo, che si trovava sempre a gironzolare nell’orto, venne a conoscenza del problema del coniglietto Padellino. Era uno spirito libero, ma, come nelle fiabe, possedeva qualcosa di magico ed era un piffero. Suonando, la sua musica raggiunse altre creature magiche uguali a lui, e, come per incanto, apparvero immediatamente. Ovviamente erano invisibili, ma con la loro magia si misero a disposizione per aiutare il coniglietto. Ogni busta che arrivava all’ufficio postale veniva rispedita con un soffio, facendola volare indietro e aprendosi. Il cielo sembrava tappezzato di carta che, per incantesimo, riprendeva la strada dell’ufficio delle tasse. Nei giorni seguenti, i documenti rinviati crescevano e crescevano sulla scrivania. Era un vero mistero, e il responsabile dell’ufficio tasse comprese l’errore. Cosa fare di quei fogli! Ed ecco che gli balenò in mente una grande idea. Radunò i topini roditori della cittadina, che in men che non si dica, rosicchiarono tutta quella carta e ne fecero sacchi di coriandoli per il carnevale.Dovete sapere che l’elfo era in possesso, oltre al piffero magico, di un ramo ricoperto di foglie altrettanto magico, ottenuto da un albero millenario, che nella sua cavità nascondeva i segreti sulla vita di queste creature fantastiche. Per ogni foglia del ramo magico, l’elfo poteva esaudire un desiderio. La voce si era sparsa, così che i bambini della cittadina gli fecero una proposta. L’elfo, diventato loro amico e non più invisibile, li ascoltò. Il loro desiderio era di inviare palloni volanti, dipinti dei colori dell’arcobaleno, in girotondo per il mondo a portare cibo a chi non ne aveva. Intanto, il coniglietto Padellino continuava a cucinare a più non posso insieme ai suoi aiutanti. Ogni foglia del ramo incantato, con la sua magia, poteva guidare un pallone per consegnare cibo cucinato dai coniglietti con tanta passione, ai bambini in tutti gli angoli del mondo. E così fu fatto. Nel frattempo, le nonne avevano intrecciato piccoli cestini di vimini e, all’interno, posizionavano una per una, in un pugno di terra, delle piantine prese dal grande orto. I cestini, legati ai palloni volanti, arrivarono a destinazione. L’incanto non aveva fine; i bambini presero le piantine che, messe a terra, innaffiate e cresciute, avrebbero dato i loro frutti, ed a loro volta, altri semi germogliavano.All’arrivo dei palloni volanti carichi di tutte le bontà, i battiti di mani dei bambini rimbombavano da ogni parte. Gustare quel cibo delizioso era come un sogno diventato realtà, portatore di gioia e felicità. I coniglietti e l’elfo scoprirono che il vero potere della magia è nella gentilezza e nell’aiutare gli altri. I bambini scrivevano sui palloni grazie e con un abbraccio di saluto ed uno slancio, li aiutavano a rialzarsi in volo e via in giro tondo per il mondo. L’elfo con il suo ramo dalle foglie magiche, aveva esaudito il grande desiderio, rendendo tutte le bambine e bambini felici.A Carotopoli venne organizzata una grande festa in onore del coniglietto Padellino ed i suoi aiutanti, i nonni, le nonne e persino il contadino ne fu partecipe. Mise a disposizione l’aia del podere, che si riempi di canti, balli e racconti di stornelli. Ogni tipo di cibo creato dal Cuoco Padellino fu sulle tavole imbandite ed alla fine della serata ci fu un grande spettacolo luminoso di fuochi d’artificio, in segno di gioia e gratitudine. Tutti gli ospiti furono sorpresi ed incantati.L’elfo, dopo la festa, alla quale partecipò dall’albero gigante, spargendo magia ovunque, ritornò ad essere invisibile, ma rimase a proteggere il grande orto di Carotopoli ed ovviamente tutti vissero felici e contenti — ognuno aiutando gli altri come poteva.

IL BUCO NEL TETTO C'era una volta, un ingegnere, non di oggi ma del domani. Era un bambino che tutte le mattine andava a scuola, ma il pomeriggio, dopo aver fatto i compiti, scappava dietro il giardino di casa, dove c’era un magazzino pieno di attrezzi da lavoro e non solo. Un alone di magia e una luce brillante illuminavano la sua mente di inventore.Era lì che, nascosto da tutti, liberava la sua fantasia e la passione di progettare e costruire oggetti meccanici.Era da qualche giorno che aveva notato un orsetto che gironzolava sempre nei paraggi del suo laboratorio segreto e magico, così un pomeriggio lo invitò a entrare. Aveva bisogno di un aiutante e questo orsetto sembrava essere adatto al ruolo.“Bene, mi piacerebbe lavorare con te. Mi sembra che tu sia proprio un bravo inventore,” disse l’orsetto Scintilla. “E tu come ti chiami?” chiese sorridendo, rivolgendosi al bambino.“Io mi chiamo Gabriele e sogno di fare l’ingegnere.”Da quel momento, felici come non mai, fecero il patto di condividere tutti i loro segreti e fantastiche avventure. Immaginarono di essere inventori di tecnologie sconosciute e piloti coraggiosi alla scoperta di posti mai visitati. Così iniziarono a costruire una macchinina che andava senza benzina! L’orsetto Scintilla passava gli attrezzi a Gabriele e nel frattempo imparava il mestiere. Unirono un pezzo dopo l’altro e, una volta finita, dipinsero la vettura del futuro di un giallo brillante e la misero in giardino, pronta per la partenza.Nei pomeriggi seguenti, con la loro ingegnosità, fabbricarono un camion dei pompieri che aveva le ruote, la scaletta e il lampeggiante, ma era senza sirena e senza pompa per l’acqua. L’orsetto lo dipinse di un rosso scintillante e pareva proprio funzionante; ma mai fu usato, perché non capitò nessun incendio da spengere.“Oggi costruiremo un trenino,” disse Gabriele.In due e due quattro, il trenino era pronto per la partenza: i vagoni erano di legno e panoramici, andava con trazione a molla caricata da una manovella. Una tecnologia mai vista prima! Una volta finito, lo posizionarono in giardino e lo misero in movimento. “Choo! Choooo!” Faceva un passo avanti e uno indietro e per la matematica di uno meno uno fa zero, non si muoveva di lì. Gli alberi del giardino, che non ne potevano più dal ridere, decisero di collaborare e unendo i loro rami, si misero a spingere facendolo girare 3 o 4 volte intorno alla casa.L’orsetto Scintilla, felice per l’invenzione che avevano collaudato con successo, canticchiava allegramente e fischiettando diceva: “Finalmente ora ci possiamo riposare!”“Neanche per idea! Dobbiamo costruire la cosa più importante,” si pronunciò Gabriele.“E che sarebbe?” domandò Scintilla.“Un aereo! Vroom Vroom, Zoom Zoom… non senti il rumore già nell’aria?”, rispose l’ingegnere del domani.Scintilla si addormentò comunque, sotto un albero del giardino e Gabriele gli si avvicinò per riposarsi un po' anche lui. Appisolatosi accanto al suo amico, insieme sognarono sogni fantastici, spazi infiniti da sorvolare e un cielo intero da esplorare.Una volta svegli e riposati, tornarono nel magazzino e, preparati gli attrezzi, si misero all’opera per costruire un aereo un po’ fantasioso: tre eliche davanti e una dietro, due ali che si piegavano e si allargavano come quelle delle aquile, una cabina di pilotaggio con due posti di seduta con bottoni, pulsanti e leve di ogni genere. Ovviamente c’era anche un motore costruito con vecchi pezzi di ricambio trovati qua e là e appariva molto potente. C’era pure il carrello d’atterraggio con le ruote gonfiate.Gabriele e Scintilla erano soddisfattissimi del loro lavoro, ma si resero conto che non sarebbe stato facile dare inizio al volo, anche perché lo avevano costruito nel magazzino e sopra di loro c’era il soffitto!Provarono comunque a mettere in movimento l’aereo spingendolo in circolo, ma niente da fare. Posizionarono l’aereo davanti a un ventilatore per farlo alzare con la corrente d’aria, ma niente da fare. Pensa e ripensa, quale magia poteva intervenire per risolvere la situazione?Allora un pomeriggio decisero di fare un buco nel tetto. In quattro e quattr'otto, inventarono una carrucola e issarono l’aereo fino sul tetto e forse da quell’altezza, avrebbe preso il volo! Magari con un piccolo aiuto dagli abitanti dell’Universo.Rimasero lassù fino a quando fece buio e con il naso all'insù guardarono la luna e le stelle fare capolino fra le nuvole.La mattina seguente, tornarono sul tetto di buon'ora, era domenica e non c’era da andare a scuola.Il sole, sorprendentemente, sembrava essersi fermato sopra di loro.“Che magica coincidenza!” I due inventori si sbracciarono a più non posso, urlando a squarciagola per farsi notare.Il sole li notò e si avvicinò tanto da sentire la loro voce. Così Gabriele e Scintilla, con tutto il loro coraggio dissero: “Tu che sei la stella più importante, ci potresti portare in giro per il cielo, nell’aereo che abbiamo appena finito di costruire. Saresti così gentile da aiutarci a prendere il volo dal tetto???” Il sole diventò per un attimo pensieroso, ma sorrise e rispose: “Procuratevi una corda e giratela bene intorno all’aereo. Sarà una bella avventura anche per me.” Fece scendere due raggi di sole, dei più resistenti e calati fino al loro tetto, i due inventori li legarono saldamente alla corda. L’ingegnere del domani e l’orsetto salirono come due razzi sul loro aereo, il sole lo tirò verso l’alto a più non posso, e via nello spazio contenti come due grandi piloti coraggiosi!Sotto di loro la terra appariva come un pallone gigante in movimento e sospeso nell’universo. Quasi non ci credevano, era bellissima colorata e magica per tutti i suoi abitanti: le piante, gli animali e tutte le persone! Improvvisamente, una nube scura che volava vicino, urtandoli, un colpo, un botto, Bang…Bang…Bang, dondolarono in aria, per poco l’aereo non andò sottosopra. Ma i due bravi piloti ripresero il controllo dell’aereo e videro la nuvola che, a dir poco distratta, cambiò direzione e scusandosi con un inchino, si allontanò per la sua strada.Nello scontro, l’aereo non aveva mantenuto l’altitudine e si era abbassato abbastanza da vedere un'immensa pianura ed al centro una base spaziale! Gabriele e Scintilla, con meraviglia e stupore, poterono osservare ingegneri, scienziati, e perfino astronauti con le loro futuristiche tute astrali, che andavano avanti e indietro intorno a missili, apparentemente pronti per il lancio. Si stavano sicuramente preparando per una grande missione nello spazio!!!Sembrava proprio un posto incredibile e affascinante. C’era anche una gigantesca insegna, che catturò la loro attenzione perché diceva: “Scuola per ingegneri con specializzazione in astronomia, scienze spaziali e vita nello spazio.” Gabriele rimase stupito, sorpreso, emozionato e fu in quel preciso momento che pensò che forse un giorno il suo sogno si sarebbe trasformato in realtà.Gabriele e Scintilla erano immersi nei loro fantastici sogni, che li accompagnarono per tutto il viaggio di ritorno. Durante l’incredibile avventura anche il sole si divertiva ma avvicinandosi l’ora del tramonto, mentre la terra girava, riconobbe in lontananza la casa col buco nel tetto ed il giardino pieno di invenzioni. Così giunto in posizione staccò i raggi luminosi dalle corde di sostegno e l’aereo, accompagnato da un vento gentile, planò dolcemente sul prato con i due viaggiatori, e radioso scomparve all’orizzonte.Nel frattempo, i genitori di Gabriele erano preoccupati, non lo vedevano da un intero giorno, era sparito, ed anche l’orsetto Scintilla, che ormai tutti conoscevano, non si trovava più. Quando atterrarono tutti volevano sapere dove fossero stati e cosa avessero fatto tutto il giorno, ma l’avventura era stata così magicamente fantastica che, come un grande sogno, per ora doveva rimanere segreta. Forse un giorno, si sarebbe sentito parlare di un grande ingegnere astronauta e del suo orsetto assistente.Gli anni passarono e la loro macchinina servì alla mamma per i vasi di fiori, mentre le coccinelle e altri insetti ci saltellavano felici sopra, il camion dei pompieri diventò la casa degli scoiattoli che si divertivano a scendere e salire la scaletta. Nel trenino abitarono le lucertole che uscivano quando c’era il sole, e di sera usavano i seggiolini come comodi lettini. L’aereo fu usato per anni come una preziosa scatola di sogni segreti da realizzare. Gabriele nello spazio e sulla luna ci è andato per davvero e l’orsetto Scintilla lo ha visto andare in volo nell’universo — la notte con il naso all'insù a guardare il cielo pieno di stelle, dal buco nel tetto.

The Hole in the RoofOnce upon a time, there was an engineer, not of today but of tomorrow. He was a boy who went to school every morning, but in the afternoon, after doing his homework, he would escape to the back of the garden, where there was a shed full of tools and more. A halo of magic and a bright light illuminated his inventor's mind. It was there, hidden from everyone, that he unleashed his imagination and passion for designing and building mechanical objects.He had noticed a little bear wandering around his secret and magical workshop for some days, so one afternoon, he invited it in. He needed a helper, and this little bear seemed perfect for the role. "Well, I'd like to work with you. You seem like a very good inventor," said Sparky the bear. "And what's your name?" he asked with a smile, turning to the boy. "My name is Gabriele, and I dream of becoming an engineer." From that moment, happier than ever, they made a pact to share all their secrets and fantastic adventures. They imagined themselves as inventors of unknown technologies and brave pilots discovering uncharted places. So, they began to build a car that ran without gasoline! Sparky passed the tools to Gabriele and meanwhile learned the craft. They assembled it piece by piece, and once finished, they painted the future car a bright yellow and placed it in the garden, ready for departure.In the following afternoons, with their ingenuity, they manufactured a fire truck that had wheels, a ladder, and a flashing light, but no siren or water pump. Sparky painted it a sparkling red, and it looked operational; but it was never used, as no fire broke out to extinguish. "Today, we'll build a train," said Gabriele. Quick as a flash, the train was ready for departure: the cars were made of wood and had panoramic windows, powered by a spring wound with a crank—a technology never seen before! Once finished, they placed it in the garden and set it in motion. "Choo! Choooo!" It moved a step forward and one back, and by the math of one minus one equals zero, it didn't move from there. The garden trees, having laughed enough, decided to collaborate. Joining their branches, they pushed, making it go 3 or 4 times around the house.Sparky, happy about the invention they had successfully tested, hummed cheerfully and whistled, saying, "Finally, now we can rest!" "Not at all! We have to build the most important thing," Gabriele declared. "And what would that be?" asked Sparky. "A plane!Vroom Vroom, Zoom Zoom... can't you already hear the noise in the air?" replied the engineer of tomorrow. Nonetheless, Sparky fell asleep under a garden tree, and Gabriele approached to rest a bit himself. Dozing off next to his friend, they dreamt fantastic dreams together, of infinite spaces to fly over and an entire sky to explore.Once awake and rested, they returned to the shed and, tools ready, set to work to build a somewhat fanciful plane: three propellers in front and one behind, two wings that folded and expanded like those of eagles, a cockpit with two seats equipped with buttons, switches, and levers of all kinds. Naturally, there was also an engine built from old spare parts found here and there, looking very powerful. There was even the landing gear with inflated wheels. Gabriele and Sparky were very pleased with their work, but they realized that taking off wouldn't be easy, especially since they had built it in the shed and there was a ceiling above them!They tried to set the plane in motion by pushing it in a circle, but to no avail. They positioned the plane in front of a fan to lift it with the airflow, but still no luck. Thinking hard, what magic could intervene to solve the situation? Then, one afternoon, they decided to make a hole in the roof. Swiftly, they invented a pulley system and hoisted the plane up to the roof, and perhaps from that height, it would take off! Maybe with a little help from the inhabitants of the Universe. They stayed up there until it got dark, and with their noses up, they watched the moon and stars peek out from the clouds.The next morning, they returned to the roof early, it was Sunday and there was no school. The sun, surprisingly, seemed to have stopped right above them. "What a magical coincidence!" The two inventors waved their arms as much as possible, shouting at the top of their lungs to get noticed. The sun noticed them and came close enough to hear their voices. So Gabriele and Sparky, with all their courage, said, "You, being the most important star, could you take us for a ride in the sky, in the plane we just finished building. Would you be so kind as to help us take off from the roof???" The sun became thoughtful for a moment, but smiled and replied, "Get a rope and wrap it well around the plane. It will be a nice adventure for me too." It sent down two of its sturdiest sunbeams, lowered to their roof, and the two inventors tied them tightly to the rope. The engineer of tomorrow and the bear climbed like rockets onto their plane, the sun pulled it upwards as hard as it could, and off into space they went, happy as two great, brave pilots! Below them, the earth appeared as a giant moving balloon suspended in the universe. They could hardly believe it; it was beautiful, colorful, and magical for all its inhabitants: plants, animals, and all people! Suddenly, a dark cloud flying nearby, bumping into them, a hit, a bang, Bang…Bang…Bang, they rocked in the air, the plane nearly turned upside down. But the two skilled pilots regained control of the plane and saw the cloud, to say the least distracted, change direction and, apologizing with a bow, went on its way.In the collision, the plane hadn't maintained its altitude and had lowered enough to see a vast plain and in the center, a space base! Gabriele and Sparky, with wonder and astonishment, could observe engineers, scientists, and even astronauts in their futuristic space suits, moving back and forth around missiles, seemingly ready for launch. They were surely preparing for a grand mission in space!!! It seemed like an incredible and fascinating place. There was also a giant sign that caught their attention because it said: "School for engineers with specialization in astronomy, space sciences, and life in space." Gabriele was amazed, surprised, excited, and it was at that precise moment he thought that maybe one day his dream would come true.Gabriele and Sparky were immersed in their fantastic dreams, accompanying them throughout the return trip. During the incredible adventure, the sun too had fun, but as the sunset approached, while the earth turned, it recognized in the distance the house with the hole in the roof and the garden full of inventions. So, arriving in position, it detached the luminous beams from the support ropes, and the plane, accompanied by a gentle wind, glided softly onto the lawn with the two travelers, and radiant, disappeared on the horizon. Meanwhile, Gabriele's parents were worried, they hadn't seen him for an entire day, he had disappeared, and even Sparky the bear, now known to everyone, was nowhere to be found. When they landed, everyone wanted to know where they had been and what they had done all day, but the adventure had been so magically fantastic that, like a great dream, for now, it had to remain a secret. Maybe one day, there would be talk of a great astronaut engineer and his bear assistant.Years passed, and their little car served as a flowerpot holder for mom, while ladybugs and other insects happily hopped on it, the fire truck became the home of squirrels who enjoyed climbing up and down the ladder. In the train lived the lizards that came out when the sun shone, and at night they used the seats as comfortable beds. The plane was used for years as a precious box of secret dreams to be realized. Gabriele did indeed go to space and the moon, and Sparky the bear saw him fly into the universe — at night, with his nose up, looking at the sky full of stars, through the hole in the roof.

THE FOUNTAIN OF TALESIn here and there, in a country that no one knows where, nor when, in a place that doesn't exist, there was an enchanted square. In the middle stood a magical fountain with jets and water features. Opposite, there was a school surrounded by a small garden with two trees and eight flower pots. Above the square, the church with its bell tower dominated the scene.The “Rainbow” ice cream shop, near the fountain, was the favorite spot for children. Their ice creams, served in a spectacular way, flew between the tables, creating a lively hustle and bustle.When a child passed by the fountain, the water droplets magically turned into words and, in turn, into tales. These came to life, accompanied by a melody that filled the air.One afternoon, after school, a group of children gathered in the square. After enjoying a “flying” ice cream, they began to play around the magical fountain. Suddenly, creating an enchanted atmosphere, the words came to life in the air: “Once upon a time,” and so the fairy tale began. Guided by the magic words of the fountain, the children lived an incredible adventure.Among jets of water of every shape and color, they were transported to a distant land, a seemingly peaceful little kingdom: the Kingdom of the Sun. A magical land where it was always summer and sunflowers grew all year round to become giants.While the children, for their amusement, explored the fantastic kingdom, something truly incredible and extremely dangerous happened. In one plantation first, and then in all the others, the sunflowers began to grow and grow, turning into terrifying dragons.The flowers' corolla turned upside down to form a head with two bright, protruding lights for eyes, and a beak that looked like a hook. The yellow petals lengthened, transforming into a braided hairdo from which they drew strength. The green stem thickened enormously, forming the body of the dragons.Suddenly and all together, the dragons began to march towards the castle and the surrounding city. Their steps were majestic, sounding like thunder, and their fiery footprints shone with sparks of every color. The dragons were impressive but above all wicked; their intentions were clear, they wanted to devastate the kingdom to conquer it.The frightened children immediately began to run breathlessly to warn the inhabitants, but by a spell, along the way, they were transformed into little warriors. Dressed in golden armor, helmets adorned with colorful feathers like a rainbow on their heads, and fiery swords in their hands. Thus transformed, there was nothing to do but fight the evil dragons and save the Kingdom of the Sun.They began to advance slowly and courageously towards the dragons, who, however, did not hesitate in their march. Despite their determination, the little warriors did not know how to stop them. The monsters were getting closer and closer, and soon they would reach them, when suddenly the clouds on the horizon opened and a leader appeared on a winged horse, who, in the blink of an eye, took command of the brave little warriors with his drawn and incandescent sword like the sun.The task was dangerous, but now they were ready for battle! They followed the Knight who, with cunning and magical power, led them in the attack against the evil dragons.The inhabitants of the kingdom, who had rushed to help the little heroes, stood still like incredulous spectators in front of these courageous children, who with the mysterious knight, in a storm of fire and sparks, were repelling the monstrous dragons. As they retreated, they began to shrink and their appearance changed into that of the bright sunflowers everyone knew and loved.It was the Kingdom of the Sun and everything was now back to what it should be.The flaming swords extinguished and the children turned towards the citizens of the kingdom who applauded and celebrated them with songs and dances. Together they shouted: "Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! For the Paladin of the Sun and his brave little allies."And so peace returned to the kingdom of the sun. Bidding farewell with a bow, the knight and the winged horse continued on their way towards the horizon from which they had come, and at sunset, the children found themselves, by magic, in the enchanted square in front of the Fountain of Tales. An endless wonder, because from there, thanks to the magic words, every time the children stopped after school, they always lived new fantastic adventures.__________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.

THE ABSENT-MINDED GRANDMOTHERAn elderly, somewhat absent-minded grandmother lived in the countryside. On sunny days as well as cloudy ones, she would wander through woods and meadows. In spring, she gathered strawberries, and in autumn, she filled a small basket with mushrooms to take home.One beautiful day in May, she walked along, humming, accompanied by chirping birds that knew her well and followed her on her wanderings.Chirp... Chirp... Chirp...“Good morning, grandmother, where are you off to today?”“Good morning to you, my friends who live in the forest, I am going for a walk.”She continued on her way along the paths, stopping in some green clearings, and, truth be told, losing her bearings. She was captivated by clouds that changed direction and shape as they flew, transforming into animals of strange forms, fantastic faces, and mysterious objects in a fairy-tale world.During her roaming, she suddenly found herself in front of a strange, dilapidated structure. Imagine if the grandmother didn’t venture to discover what it might hide.A talkative sparrow that had followed her chirped.Chirp... Chirp... Chirp...“Be careful, grandmother, it could be dangerous to enter this abandoned and unknown place.”The grandmother nodded her head and continued determinedly towards the building.In front, there was a little entrance garden with a dangling gate and at the end, a half-open, rickety door with a faded sign above it: Ceramic Factory. “This is getting interesting,” thought the grandmother.Once inside, she seemed to hear whispering voices. As curious as she was, she went forward and what did she see?! Broken plates everywhere, chipped vases, amphorae and pitchers without handles, cups in search of their saucers to stand upright. A real disaster!“But what happened to you?” asked the grandmother.A less broken teacup began to speak. “Once, this was a factory; the workers were so skilled at making and painting ceramic objects that they made them magical. Unfortunately, one unlucky day, a fire reduced the factory to what it is now, and we were left here, waiting for someone to come and save us, but so much time has passed that our fate is sealed.”The teacup stopped talking, sighing and looking around with a sad air.The grandmother, thoughtful, sought a solution. “Who could fix these objects?” she wondered. “There must be some emergency service for these ceramics that need repairing!”Suddenly, the “absent-minded” but decidedly ingenious grandmother put a plan into action.Quickly, she took out the cellphone that her grandson had given her and which, on his advice, she always kept in her pocket, and called the Emergency Service.On the other end of the phone, a professional voice asked for information and who was speaking.“I am a grandmother,” explained the old lady, “and I need emergency assistance; I am in the forest on the hill and there has been a big accident, there’s a lot of confusion and I can’t make heads or tails of it!”“How can we find you, grandmother?” asked the voice on the phone, worried.“Don’t worry, I will send two fantastic birds, my friends, who will lead you through the forest to me.” In a flash, the ambulance, with its siren blaring, traversed the rough paths and arrived at the site.“Thank goodness for the birds, grandmother, otherwise who would have found you?!” said the driver, rushing out and ready to help. They were about to load her onto the stretcher when she started yelling: “Are you daft! I am healthy; I didn’t call you for me, but for all those broken ceramics inside the Factory that need to be fixed immediately!”The driver was dumbfounded and speechless, as he had never encountered such a situation before; but he obviously understood the good intentions of the somewhat strange grandmother and, considering they had already arrived, he obliged her in carrying out that incredible “emergency intervention”.One by one, those beautiful, albeit broken, magical objects were transported to a specialized ceramics shop, restored, and placed in a real museum that everyone, absolutely everyone, could visit.When the grandmother received the letter from the Museum with the news, she was overjoyed and decided to celebrate with a lovely afternoon tea in the garden. It was right there, to her great surprise, that she found the teacup from the abandoned Factory waiting for her.At exactly 5 o'clock in the afternoon, with steaming tea in the Talking Cup, magically, the conversation continued... The birds that accompanied the grandmother every day arrived just in time for tea, and when they saw the grandmother chatting with the magical cup, a great chirping and flapping of wings began to erupt in the air like applause. The clouds, and the sun peeking out above them, had followed the entire adventure and, happy for the happy ending, greeted the Grandmother with a big smile. The absent-minded, yes, but truly ingenious Grandmother.__________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.

THE FLYING TOWNIn the vastness of the universe, there was a town called Ficulle. It looked normal, but it was flying.Continuously circling along with Earth in the Milky Way, it always paused for half an hour on the weekends. All the residents took this time to sit quietly and relax while sipping a nice frothy cappuccino. And then off they went again!After their break at the space bar, the town continued its journey. The residents resumed flying, and although it may seem a bit strange to you, the birds went back to walking, and to drink from the fountains, they had to hop two or three times.This town was truly enchanting and magical. The flowers in the gardens lit up with moonlight (even during the day!), the river was made up of trails of shooting stars, and the trees changed the color of their leaves depending on the wind... and the mood.When you think about it, life in a flying town is quite interesting.All the houses were colorful, but the paint changed, and the houses continuously shifted colors, just like the leaves do. Each had a clock on the facade, but they chimed at different times because the hands flew left and right.For meals, residents glued plates, glasses, and cutlery to the floating tables. If a piece of bread fell, someone below would catch it in flight. Dogs always had their noses up to take advantage of a flying snack, naturally.Grandparents took to the sky on their straw brooms for errands but yelled continuously to avoid collisions: "Make way, make way, we're a bit blind!" Kids on their flying bikes laughed their hearts out, while butterflies, bees, and even hornets grumbled because there was too much aerial activity. They urgently requested designated paths!Besides, the town's only traffic light had a single blue light, giving the go-ahead for the sky. There was indeed a bit too much movement, and occasionally the space police took action. Those who didn't follow the rules were sentenced to walk on the ground!Only after sunset did the residents stop flying and sleep deeply until dawn. Fireflies with their little night wings could fly peacefully alongside bats with their cloak-like wings.One early morning, an intergalactic circus landed in a large field near the library. What a surprise, what magic! Clowns, acrobats, trapeze artists, and jugglers put their noses out of the tent and began to walk upside down. The mayor had an idea: "Maybe they can fix the erratic clock hands." And so they did.The head trapeze artist had noticed that the only clock keeping accurate time was the one on the tower of the astronomical observatory. Without hesitation, he grabbed a rope and his trapeze, and swinging back and forth like a pendulum, he managed to magically connect all the hands of the erratic clocks to those of the tower. From that moment on, all the clocks chimed in unison.What incredible joy! The circus artists were welcomed in the flying town, and as if in a fairy tale, the performances started precisely at 19:36. The circus shows attracted the whole town, and as the audience entered the tent, magically and astonishingly, they stopped flying and the popcorn stayed still in their bags, ready to be munched.The performers gave their best, and the clowns handed out colorful balloons to all the children to release into the sky upon exit. The children were happy, and so were the circus performers.Even the Big Dipper and her niece, the Little Dipper, hearing applause and laughter from the colorful tent, decided to interrupt their perpetual journey through the Milky Way for an hour. They got themselves a nice frothy cappuccino and saw what was happening.They had heard about this flying town where everything was topsy-turvy and chaotic. But as they approached the circus, they saw a welcome banner that read: "Here, there's entertainment, flying, playing, fun, and it's all free." The Big Dipper turned to her niece and said, "What's all this gossip the universe is spreading? This seems like a nice, peaceful place to live and visit! There's even a traveling circus... maybe that's flying too!__________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.

THE STRAW HATS OF FLORENCEAt the end of summer, in a small country town, the fair was an event: people met and blah blah blah... at every corner of the streets. The main square was invaded by fun and exciting rides: the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, the merry-go-round for the little ones, and much more.The stands of the candy sellers, with cotton candy, mint hard candies, and freshly made crunchies, attracted children like bees to honey. Stalls full of various merchandise awaited the first buyers who, looking left and right, chose at their will.Suddenly, dark clouds on the horizon announced a big storm. A rush of people who didn't have umbrellas to shelter with! The rides were immediately halted. The wind did its part: there was a large fluttering of goods of all kinds. A stall selling straw hats of Florence was left so empty that it couldn't be emptier. The hats, as if they had lives of their own, landed on people's heads. Other little hats, which looked like souvenirs, flew onto the heads of dogs and cats wandering scared nearby. The little animals grumbled amongst themselves: "What have we come to the fair for, to take a shower?" They were about to run away, when suddenly they started to dance. What was the mystery in the little hats?A man soaked in rain watched them: they were so good that a brilliant idea came to mind. "Let's make a show of dancing dogs and cats touched by magic under the rain!" And so he did.After the storm passed, he set up a show for the following evening. Wearing the little hats, the animals jumped, danced, and performed somersaults. The audience flowed in large numbers and the show pleased both young and old. What a success!The animals spoke to each other and, agreeing, asked to organize shows in major cities. Caught up in the excitement, the man rented a hot-air balloon with a colorful balloon with all the colors of the rainbow to fly his friends.They crossed plains, lakes, and mountains and, while flying over a valley, three little hats that were perched precariously on the balloon, carried by the wind, fell down into the meadows. "Help, help, save them!" but three goats picked them up and, placed on their heads, began to dance. What magic had touched them!Our small travelers from the balloon shouted: "Let's take the goats into the company!" And so they lowered ropes, joined forces, and, pulling and pulling, managed to bring them on board. Everyone was happy.As they explained to the goats what they were going to do and why they were flying in the sky, they reached the first stop which was in Venice. The lagoon, the canals, and St. Mark's Square framed the show. Satisfied, they departed for other cities. The second stop was in Rome, the eternal city, they flew over the Colosseum and arrived in Piazza di Spagna; the Spanish Steps accompanied them like a gentle dance towards the sky. Ready for another destination, they reached Naples; the view of Vesuvius in the distance, the gulf at sunset was spectacular, they performed in front of the Castel dell'Ovo.The grand finale was in Florence. What was the best place to dance? The square of the church of San Miniato al Monte on the hill, thought the man. The multicolored hot-air balloon landed and the show began. The bells mysteriously rang from the bell tower, like on a festival day. The citizens climbed the high steps of the staircase, but at the top remained motionless like statues and speechless. The surprise, the atmosphere, the magic of the place: goats, dogs, and cats not only danced, but slowly rose swirling around the church and on the square. The sound of a mysterious music coming from the walls of that immense and ancient building accompanied them. They flew with such lightness that they seemed like wingless angels, but with the "straw hats of Florence."After this magical adventure, the showman brought dogs and cats back to the fair square in the small town and returned the hats to the seller. Everyone returned to their owner, carrying great happiness in their hearts. The fair's rides spun again for a few more days, for the joy of children and young people. The goats returned to graze freely in the valley, transported by a mysterious but joyful force.__________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.

THE TOY ROOMThree little siblings: a little girl with red curls on her head and two little boys with straight hair; every morning they went to school. They had fashionable backpacks from which they took out all the necessary items, but from each of the three backpacks a new toy came out. A child named Carletto had a worn-out and faded backpack, just a small notebook, an eraser, and a worn-out pencil; when the teacher noticed, she scolded him.Curious about the toys, one day he followed the three siblings. They arrived near a building, very narrow and very tall, yellow and green in color, which ended with a tower. In front of them walked little mice in single file; "how strange," he didn't have time to think it when the little animals fluttered behind a hedge. Hidden there was a small window with a grate; the mice went through it, the children followed, and him, cunningly, followed them a minute later. There was a ladder so high that it seemed to reach the sky. The mice's tail, transformed into a propeller, made them go up like rockets. Once at the top, they opened a door, turned around and said, "Come on, come on, Carletto, we've been waiting for you for a long time!" Carletto climbed up with the enthusiasm of someone heading towards a discovery, incredulous but eager to understand and discover. At the top, he passed by the animals who gave him a big bow; he thought: "Have I become a king by magic?" He looked around: "I am in a dream..."The room had a loft; toys of all kinds were scattered in every corner. He was struck by an old wooden horse with wheels, a string to pull it, and a whistle under its tail. A puppet theater was putting on a show. A spinning top seemed like a flying carousel; a nutcracker soldier sat on the loft and spoke up: "You are Carletto, I know you, the child who is perched under the roof, with a glove that covers only one finger, a patched jacket, but with big eyes that seem like street lamps; I see you from the theater stage, I would like to call you, but I have a role to respect." Carletto was more than amazed.The three siblings entered, astonished by his presence; the toy room was a secret. The mice consulted each other, they were the guardians. A robot, who had a brain, proposed that Carletto become part of the magic. "Enterprising, as brave as he is, and he likes theater," said the nutcracker, standing tall as befits a soldier.The secret was not only about the toys, but there was a real super secret. A team of soldiers, who were all lined up on the loft, came down every night to protect the dreams of the children in their little beds. Everyone was happy with the decision taken.In a corner, on a small stool, there was a cricket eating a sandwich; from joy, it rolled to the ground. The little sister insisted on taking Carletto as a fourth sibling and, as such, they behaved at school and outside. If someone asked Carletto: "Have you ever seen a very tall building, half yellow and half green with a tower?" "Yes, yes," he replied smiling, "but only in a dream."__________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.

BEEHIVE STREET, NUMBER 7The garden of the house at Beehive Street Number 7 was surrounded by a wall and closed with a gate. One day the owners, with their two children, decided to coat the inside of the wall with biscuits, honey, and jam in layers, as if they were bricks and cement; some of it melted but, pressed down, the coating was done.What a strange idea! But it was spring and the bees sucked the sweet jam like pollen from the flowers. The honey dripping from the wall reached the flowers, transforming them into sweets, the small stones of the path became colorful confetti. Curiously, the rain couldn't reach the lawn because it remained suspended like strands of strawberry jelly.The homeowners, along with their two children, were amazed and didn't know what to think. It really seemed like magic, okay they were a bit strange, but this was truly a mystery, the mother with a very long braid to sweep the ground, the father with a pair of mustaches that looked like two wings to cut the air, and the children who went to school dressed so "ridiculously" that all the other kids made fun of them.The news about the candy garden had spread in the air and by now everyone was talking about it. The birds perched on the wall fed on sweets, the butterflies became sugar flowers themselves, and the lizards lay in the sun with full bellies.On a warm summer evening, the garden was filled with fluttering fireflies like fairies with luminous wands. A big party had begun, attracting all the children and young people of the village. Entering the garden, everything was incredibly surprising and so good to eat that they didn't stop until there wasn't a crumb of sweetness left.After that fantastic night no more sweets were found to eat, but the magic remained and so in the air a great joy lingered. The garden appeared greener and more lush than before, with butterflies of every color landing on the flowers.The following morning, upon waking, the young parents thought of removing the garden wall. So all the children and little animals could freely come in to play with their two children, who no longer appeared strange in their eyes, but very charming playmates."What a miracle!!!" __________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.

WHO WRITES THESE STORIES?At sunset, from a window, a hot air balloon flew to the horizon. A cup of coffee with its saucer was placed on an old wobbly wooden table. A inkwell with colored ink and a pen with a shiny firefly at its tail were ready to narrate fantastic and magical stories.The writer, sitting on a three-legged stool, opened the creaking drawer of the table and picked out a dream to narrate. By magic, the pen, brighter than ever, dipped in ink, began to write; the pages filled up and flew away.The hot air balloon, having approached the windowsill, collected a load of fantastic stories, and flying over the children's houses, dropped many magical fables into their bedrooms. They were written with the heart, and there they would dwell forever.This is your... "writer".__________________________________________________You can read or listen to this Story Under The Stars in: Italian — English — Spanish — French — Japanese — Chinese —Request your language and we will do our best to accommodate you!The translation from Italian (the original language) to other languages, and the reading of the stories in all these languages, is not magic but the work of Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps is a bit magical... We hope it has done a good job!If you enjoy these stories, please share them, and if you can afford it, Consider A Donation.