Zucchero

Ancestry invites us to look back while racing forward. Over time we gather documents and pale recollections to tell us who we once were and to connect the last links of time and place. We take comfort in remembering the warm embrace of family.Zucchero, was inspired by a comment made by the author's daughter in her childhood diary: "How I love to hear the trees whispering to each other. It means God made everything." Norma's precocious observation of one of life's mysteries, and her sense of wonder and curiosity about nature. Using her words as a starting point, this timeless story is about Norma's loving and nurturing relationship with Zucchero, the family's donkey and her grandfather, Nonno. Together in their daily lives they share the dignity and gifts of hard work. Zucchero is the pole star, dependable and indispensable as an affectionate companion, a devoted co-worker, and sometime fearless defender. The story adopt's family folklore, real or imagined, so that in totality the book is the twined contributions of generations.