Imagine a place

“The road is short, but it will take you far.” Hand in hand with her father, little Teresa discovers that school isn’t just a building, but a boundless horizon where every curiosity finds a home.

Teresa woke up full of excitement and questions. With her backpack ready and her favorite clothes on, she is eager to discover a world she doesn’t know yet. As she walks with her father, a tender and intimate dialogue begins. “Tell me what it’s like… did you go there too?” she asks. Through her father’s reassuring words, school is transformed into a place of pure wonder: a jungle to run through, a symphony to listen to, and secret planets to explore. This poetic journey prepares children for their first big step, framing school as a safe and welcoming harbor for all the “whys” in the world.

Rights sold: Simplified Chinese, Japanese languages

Key Selling Points:

– A perfect story to soothe the anxiety of the first day of school, turning fear into joyful anticipation.

– Father-daughter bond – A moving portrayal of a father guiding his child toward independence with love and imagination.

– Wide and airy art – Lucia Scuderi’s charming illustrations give a sense of freedom, showing that school is a place with plenty of room to grow.

Author & Illustator:

Chiara Carminati is one of Italy’s most prominent authors of poems and stories for children and young adults. In 2012, she received the Andersen Prize as Best Author, and in 2016, she won the first-ever Strega Ragazz e Ragazzi Prize.
She specializes in reading aloud and the musicality of language, conducting workshops for teachers, librarians, and students. Her work for Lapis Edizioni is known for its poetic rhythm and its ability to handle delicate childhood milestones with a clear and accessible voice. By blending simple words and deep emotions, she creates books that resonate with both children and the adults reading with them.

Lucia Scuderi is an acclaimed author, painter, and illustrator. Winner of the Andersen Prize for Best Illustrator, her work is defined by a deep connection with the natural world. Lucia uses her art to explore the beauty of biodiversity and the secret lives of animals.

Her illustrations are renowned for their elegance and ability to capture the essence of nature with a poetic yet scientific gaze.