The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Dino Buzzati |
|---|---|
| Original title | La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia |
| Translator | Frances Lobb |
| Illustrator | Dino Buzzati |
| Cover artist | Dino Buzzati |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
| Publisher | Rizzoli, Milano |
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Publication date
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1945 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-06-072608-3 (2005 edition in English) |
| OCLC | 55634012 |
| LC Class | PZ8.B965 Be 2005 |
The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily (Italian: La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia) is an exciting children's book from 1945. It was written and illustrated by an Italian author named Dino Buzzati. The story is about a big adventure where bears and humans in Sicily end up in a conflict. It's written like a novel, but it also has lots of poems and cool drawings!
Contents
The Bears' Big Adventure
This book tells the story of a group of bears living high in the mountains of Sicily. Their leader is a brave bear named King Leonzio. One winter, it got super cold, and the bears couldn't find any food. To survive, they decided to do something daring: invade the human lands of Sicily! King Leonzio also hoped to find his son, Tonio, who had been taken by hunters years ago.
Facing the Human Army
The Grand Duke, who ruled the human lands, sent his army to stop the bears. The bears were much smaller and seemed to have no chance. But then, their strongest warrior, a bear named Babbone, stepped forward. He bravely threw huge snowballs at the soldiers, making them run away!
The bears celebrated in the human camp. There, they met Professor De Ambrosiis. He was the Grand Duke's sorcerer and used to be his astrologer. The Grand Duke had fired him because he predicted his kingdom would fall. Professor De Ambrosiis had a magic wand, but it could only be used twice. He wanted to save its power for himself if he got sick.
However, a new danger appeared! The Sire of Molfetta, a cousin of the Grand Duke, arrived with an army of wild boars. Professor De Ambrosiis had to use one of his magic spells to save the bears and himself. He made the boars swell up until they exploded in the sky!
Reaching the Capital City
After many adventures, the bears finally reached the capital city. They hoped to find lots of food there. The first day of fighting was tough, but the bears won thanks to clever inventions by a bear named Frangipane. His ideas helped them get inside the city walls.
King Leonzio and some of his bears went into the Excelsior theater. The Grand Duke was there, watching a show, not knowing what was happening outside. On stage, Tonio, King Leonzio's son, was performing as an acrobat! Leonzio immediately recognized him and rushed forward. But the Grand Duke shot Tonio, badly hurting him.
Leonzio's friends quickly took action against the Grand Duke. Professor De Ambrosiis, even though he really didn't want to, used his second and final magic spell to heal Tonio. And so, King Leonzio began his rule over the city. He wanted bears and humans to live together peacefully.
The Bears Change
As years passed, things started to change. The bears began to act more like humans. They started wearing clothes and drinking. A bear named Salnitro, who was the king's helper, was a big part of this change. He kept King Leonzio busy by building a huge monument in his honor.
Meanwhile, Salnitro secretly opened a gambling place, where King Leonzio even caught his son Tonio playing! Salnitro also threw wild parties in a hidden palace. He even stole a second magic wand that Professor De Ambrosiis had made for himself.
Salnitro wanted more and more power. One day, King Leonzio and his loyal bears went out to sea to fight a giant sea snake that was threatening the city. Salnitro used this chance to hurt King Leonzio very badly. But a bear named Jasmine, who had noticed Salnitro's bad plans, quickly stopped him. Jasmine killed Salnitro right away.
Returning to the Mountains
On his deathbed, King Leonzio asked the bears to leave the city. He told them that the riches and human habits had corrupted them. He wanted them to go back to the mountains, where they would find true peace. The bears listened to their king. They left the city and the humans forever, returning to their simple life in the mountains.
About the Book
The book was first published in Italy in 1945 by a company called Rizzoli. It was later translated into English by Frances Lobb. In America, HarperCollins published the hardcover edition in 2003 and the paperback in 2005. The English edition also includes a "Reader's Companion" written by Lemony Snicket. This companion helps readers understand each chapter, asks interesting questions, and suggests fun activities.
Film Version
This amazing book has also been made into an animated movie! It's a French-Italian film called The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily. It was directed by Lorenzo Mattotti.
