Eat, Leo! Eat!
What’s inside...
Leo wants no part of sitting down with his family to eat Nonna's big, delizioso lunch every Sunday. 'I'm not hungry,' he insists. Not hungry? Hmm. Clever Nonna gets an idea. She'll use a story to lure Leo to her table. And since the pasta in her soup, called stelline (little stars), is woven into the story about a boy who journeys to his grandmother's at night, it works. But again on the following Sunday, Leo doesn't want to eat. So Nonna expands her story, this time adding some chiancaredde (paving stones), the name of the pasta she's serving that day, to create a path for her character to follow. Now Leo's hooked. So much that he begins to badger Nonna every Sunday to reveal more pasta-based details of the story. And week by week, as Leo's relatives crowd around listening to Nonna and teasing Leo to get him to mangia (eat), he slowly comes to realize just how happy he is to have a place at this table. In this heartwarming picture book, award-winning author Caroline Adderson beautifully captures the love and tenderness Leo feels from his grandmother and the rest of his close-knit family through lively, true-to-life dialogue. The playful, detailed artwork by Josée Bisaillon helps bring all of them to life. This book offers a perfect framework for lessons exploring the heritage, customs and relationships of families. The unique story-within-a-story concept, along with the idea that Nonna's tale is being told cumulatively, could easily launch a storytelling assignment. Additionally, the section on pasta and the list of Italian vocabulary words make a great introduction to foreign cultures through food and language.
Discussion points
Why do you think Leo was hesitant to eat his pasta at first?
What changes about Leo's feeling towards his meal when his Nonna tells him a story?
How do you feel when someone shares a story with you during mealtime?
Can you think of a meal that you enjoy more when it's shared with family or friends?
What part of Nonna’s stories did you like the best?
Tip: Role play these questions
Set the stage for discussion by first summarizing the story with your child, highlighting key moments.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, relating it to their own experiences with food and family gatherings.
Use the mealtime setting in the book to have these discussions over a family meal, making connections between the book and your child’s own life.
Ask your child to imagine their own story to tell during a family meal, encouraging creativity and active participation.
Praise your child’s responses and thoughts, reinforcing their engagement and making the discussion a positive, affirming experience.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of family traditions
Explanation: In 'Eat, Leo! Eat!', each pasta shape Leo eats comes with a story from his Nona, showcasing how family meals can also be a time for sharing family history and traditions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value and partake in their own family traditions, understanding the importance of maintaining these cultural rituals.
Example Lesson: Listening and attentiveness
Explanation: Leo learns to listen to Nona’s stories as he eats, illustrating the value of paying attention to others during family gatherings.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to practice listening skills at home and school, enhancing their ability to absorb information and engage in meaningful discussions.
Example Lesson: The joy of eating diverse foods
Explanation: The book introduces children to different types of pasta, which Nona uses as a gateway to encourage Leo to eat his meals.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to explore a variety of foods at mealtimes, making them more open to experiencing new tastes and textures.
Example Lesson: Creativity through storytelling
Explanation: Each pasta shape sparks a different story from Nona, demonstrating how everyday objects can inspire creativity and storytelling.
Real-World Application: Children can be motivated to create their own stories from simple prompts, boosting their imagination and creative thinking skills.
Example Lesson: The value of patience
Explanation: Leo slowly develops an appreciation for his meals and the stories, showing the importance of patience and the rewards it can bring.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the benefits of being patient, helping them to understand that some experiences and rewards require waiting and perseverance.