Angelo by David Macaulay

Blurb: High above the rooftops of Rome, Angelo begins his work restoring the façade of a once glorious church. There, among the sticks and feathers, he discovers a wounded bird. Angelo becomes the bird’s reluctant savior. As the church nears completion, Angelo begins to worry about the future of his avian friend. “What will become of you? Where will you go . . . where will you . . . live?” he asks her. Through his artistry as a master craftsman he answers the questions for his humble friend and assures that he, himself will not be forgotten.

While restoring the front of a church an old master plasterer rescues an injured pigeon and over time he gently restores her health. Meanwhile we watch as he works every day to restore the fragile decorations on this old building. He works through many years until eventually he dies but in a beautiful twist he does ensure someone will notice that his pigeon friend once lived there. He makes a nest and some feathers from stucco and in the illustration we see Sylvia (the pigeon) using this nest to raise her chicks.

Here is a video reading of Angelo.

In an old Italian town Angelo, a plasterer and restorer of buildings, rescues an injured pigeon and coaxes her back to health despite ‘his professional dislike for pigeons’. In turn, though she is a bit skittish, the pigeon becomes a constant support and companion as the old man struggles up and down the scaffolding finishing work on a beautiful old church he hopes will be his crowning glory. David Macaulay’s wonderfully intricate illustrations of Italian architecture and life seen from every perspective and the quiet story of mutual concern make this book quite special. Readings Melbourne

Here are some other reviews:

• "Tender and poignant . . . Drawn skilfully and freely in pen and ink, washed with shades of blue and terracotta, the pictures are full of events and details beyond the story, and depict the rooftops, the restaurants and the light of Italy in a way that makes you long to be there Nicolette Jones - The Sunday Times
• "Macaulay refuses to be confined by the conventions of the picture book." Booklist
• "Unassuming but affecting, this tale of friendship is bound to be popular with a wide audience." The Bulletin
• "The warm, offbeat story of camaraderie and nurturing is told in subtly humorous, succinct text, but it's Macaulay's winning illustrations that steal the show." Booklist
• "These intricate drawings are suffused with soft autumnal colours that perfectly complement the beautiful story." The New York Times Book Review

David Macaulay is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books have sold millions of copies in the United States alone, and his work has been translated into a dozen languages. Macaulay has won numerous awards including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, an American Institute of Architects Medal, and the Washington Post–Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award. 

I picked up this book for two, or perhaps three reasons. I should start by saying this is an old book from 2002 and so it is no longer in print. Now back to my reasons. Firstly, this book is by an author/illustrator who does beautiful, detailed drawings. I loved owning his book The Way things Work in my former school library. Secondly this book was set out in a library display about Italy and all things Italian and our IBBY Congress for 2024 is in Italy and thirdly I watched the Teacher-Librarian relocate this book to her popular display with books that feature pigeons which is a topic enjoyed by the children in her school. 

Then when I read this book I discovered it was set in Italy and as you read this post I am about to arrive there! I am saying this book is set in Florence but most reviewers list the setting as Rome. So here is the page from the book plus the back cover and then an image of Florence and an image of Rome.

Florence

Rome

David Macaulay books:

Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway

I adore books where a mess is cleaned up. Where order is restored out of chaos. Where everyone works together to transform a house, garden or in this case a hotel.

Anna has inherited The Flamingo Hotel. Sadly its glory days are long past. A new, more glamorous, hotel has opened on Animal Boulevard. Hotel Flamingo has no guests and all the staff have left. When Anna arrives there are only two employees left - a bear called T. Bear who works as the doorman and a ring-tailed lemur called Lemmy who works on the reception desk.

There is dust and dirt everywhere. The pool is broken, the sign outside has fallen down and the manager's office is filled with so much paper Anna can't even find a desk or a seat.  Every floor is wrecked.

"The tour started on the ground floor in the lobby. There was a restaurant which was filled with old crooked tables but no chairs. Next up was the Piano Lounge, with a carpet so dizzily patterned that it made Anna's head hurt. The piano was missing three keys and was out of tune, but at least there was a piano, thought Anna."

Anna puts out an advertisement for new staff.  She takes on:

• Stella Giraffe an expert handy woman
• Madame Le Pig a world-famous chef
• Eva Koala waitress
• Squeak a old mouse who works as the bellboy
• Hilary Hippo the cleaner - she is allergic to dust and fanatical about cleaning

This new crew transform the hotel but of course a disaster might be just around the corner especially when the health inspector arrives and when you have asked a group of flamingo's to perform in the piano lounge.

Guests begin to arrive including a group of cockroaches. Just like Mona from the Heartwood Hotel, Anna welcomes all guests. Later when pool water pipes are blocked Mr Roachford and his group come to the rescue as only cockroaches can. I love the fact that the cockroaches are heroes.

Hotel Flamingo will be be available from 7th February.

I can see this book will be the beginning of a series. The  cute map at the front of the book shows Fort Rhino, Zoozoo Theme Park, Lizard Beach and LeChat Shopping Mall. Perhaps each of these will be the setting for future installments. I highly recommend Hotel Flamingo as a terrific addition for all school library collections and as a gift for a newly independent reader. For me it is a ten out of ten book!

The obvious pairing for this book is the Heartwood Hotel series by Kallie George. If the size and format of this book appeals you could also look at the Claude series by Alex T Smith, Violet and the Pearl of the Orient by Harriet Whitehorn and Mango and Bambang by Polly Faber.  Alex Milway has made a trailer celebrating the cockroaches with a fabulous song you could teach your class. Here is another trailer without the song.


It’s full of joie de vivre, and I loved its story line of a little girl who creates jobs, works hard alongside her staff, welcomes the downtrodden, and triumphs in the face of adversity. Lil Blue Bottle