The Legend of Old Befana
An Italian Christmas Story
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers · Print & ebook · September 17, 2019
In this beloved classic picture book, Tomie dePaola retells and illustrates an Italian Christmas folk tale, breathing warmth and humanity into the character of the lonely Old Befana and her endless search for the Christ Child.
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- Who it’s for
- An Italian Christmas folktale finds warmth in an old woman’s search and a star-lit encounter.
- Themes
- Italian Christmas folklore, Loneliness and longing, Search for the Christ Child
- Genres
- Christian Holiday Stories, Christmas & Advent, Country & Ethnic Folktales
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Start with this bookAbout this book
In this beloved classic picture book, Tomie dePaola retells and illustrates an Italian Christmas folk tale, breathing warmth and humanity into the character of the lonely Old Befana and her endless search for the Christ Child. Every morning and every afternoon, Old Befana sweeps with her broom. “Cranky old lady,” the children say. “She is always sweeping!” Sweep, sweep, sweep.
Continue reading
But when a brilliant star glows in the eastern sky one night, and Old Befana encounters the glorious procession of three kings on their way to Bethlehem, her world will never be the same.
A Sweeping Christmas Tale
An Italian Christmas folktale finds warmth in an old woman’s search and a star-lit encounter.
Come here for
- A classic retelling with warmth and spiritual resonance
- The quiet ritual of sweeping meets Christmas wonder
Expect
- A gentle folk-tale rhythm and an intimate search
- A Christmas story shaped by an unexpected encounter
Where it sits
| Country & Ethnic Folktales | 80% |
|---|---|
| Christmas & Advent | 56% |
| Christian Holiday Stories | 46% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Fairy Tales & Folklore
- Christmas & Advent
- Christian Stories
- Authors
- Tomie dePaola
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Published
- September 17, 2019
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Italian Christmas folklore · Loneliness and longing · Search for the Christ Child
- Reading lane
- Fairy Tales & Folklore