The Grammar of Fantasy: An Introduction to the Art of Inventing Stories

by Gianni Rodari, Matt Forsythe (Illustrator), Jack Zipes (Translator)

Overview

From the father of modern Italian children’s literature, a guide to fairy tales and their potential for teaching creative storytelling to children—with radiant illustrations from Matthew Forsythe and a refreshed translation from Jack Zipes

“The ultimate synthesis of Rodari’s exuberant knowledge, a book of both pedagogy and poetics, poetry for teachers and pedagogy for poets.” —Italo Calvino

A groundbreaking pedagogical work that is also a handbook for writers of all ages and kinds, The Grammar of Fantasy offers a playful, practical path to finding your own voice through the power of storytelling. Full of ideas, glosses on fairy tales, stories, and wide-ranging activities, this book changed how creative arts were taught in Italian schools.

Gianni Rodari is not only revered as a children’s author, but also remembered for his visionary pedagogy, and it is these two fields he combines in this revolutionary essay collection. Translated into English by acclaimed scholar of folklore and children’s literature Jack Zipes, and with original art from illustrator Matthew Forsythe, this edition of The Grammar of Fantasy is one to live with and return to for its humor, intelligence, and remarkable understanding of children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592703050
Publisher:	Enchanted Lion
Publication date:	03/11/2025
Pages:	316
Sales rank:	345,161
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Gianni Rodari is widely considered the father of modern Italian children’s literature. In 1960, he collaborated with the Education Cooperation Movement to develop exercises to encourage children’s creative and critical thinking abilities. The recipient of the prestigious Andersen Prize in recognition of his contribution to children’s literature, he was also one of Italy’s most important educators and an activist who understood the liberating power of the imagination. Jack Zipes is a renowned children’s historian and folklorist who has written, translated, and edited dozens of books on fairy tales (Breaking the Magic Spell, The Irresistible Fairy Tale, The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm). He is professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota. Matthew Forsythe is the award-winning author-illustrator of Pokko and the Drum and MINA, and illustrator of The Gold Leaf. He was also a designer on the animated shows Adventure Time and The Midnight Gospel, as well as the Oscar-nominated animated film Robin Robin. He lives in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

RODARI’S LEGACY AS CHAMPION OF CHILDREN’S IMAGINATION: Building on the splash our English translation of Telephone Tales made in the US in 2020.

 

BREAKING DOWN STORYTELLING FOR TEACHERS & WRITERS

 

NEW ILLUSTRATIONS FROM MATT FORSYTHE

From the Publisher