The Enormous Turnip

Olga pulled, Ivan pulled,

the cow pulled, the dog pulled,

and even the cat pulled,

but the turnip would not come out.

One tiny seed. One enormous turnip. And a whole village of helping paws.

Olga and Ivan plant a small seed that grows into an enormous turnip. But when the time comes to pull it out of the ground, the two of them are not enough. First comes the cow. Then the dog, the cat… and finally, a tiny mouse. This much-loved Russian folk tale builds through repetition and small surprises, growing funnier with every new helper.

A joyful lesson on teamwork, told in Attilio Cassinelli’s timeless, essential style.

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Key highlights: 

◊ Part of a beloved series
The Enormous Turnip joins Attilio’s Mini Fairy Tales, a collection of timeless stories retold through Attilio Cassinelli’s clean, unmistakable style.

​◊A master’s essential, timeless line
Bold shapes and a rigorous, geometric style, recognisable at a glance, bring new life to a much-loved folk tale.

​◊ Built for the very first read-alouds
Repetition, rhythm and a growing cast of helpers make this story easy to follow, and irresistible to act out with voices and gestures.

◊ A small story about a big lesson
Under the humour and the accumulating cast of animals lies a simple truth: some things can only be done together.

Author & Illustrator

Painter, designer and illustrator. His rigorous, geometric style has reshaped Italian publishing for young children. In 2016, working alongside his daughter Alessandra, he returned to bookshops, quickly earning major national and international recognition, including a Special Jury Prize at the Andersen Prize 2017, the Nati per Leggere Prize 2017 for Little Red Riding Hood, the Nati per Leggere Prize 2020 for Primo (Early Bird), and a Special Mention for Career Achievement at the Bologna Ragazzi Award 2019.

2019
TODDLER
SPECIAL CATEGORY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
SPECIAL GIURY PRIZE