Gianni Rodari: Humor, Fantasy And Puns
Creator of a literary genre for children and teacher full of inventiveness and imagination. Always in close contact with the world of education and childhood. He fought for imagination and fantasy to have the place they deserve in the field of education. We are talking about Gianni Rodari: a master of humor, imagination and puns.
Gianni Rodari: humor, imagination and puns
In close contact with the world of education and childhood, Gianni Rodari has taken on the task of changing the school and its teaching methods. He tried to give a special role to imagination and creativity within schools.
After his work as a teacher he wrote Grammatica della fantasia , his great contribution to contemporary pedagogy. With this work he transmitted his revolutionary and liberating idea of literature.
In this article we will tell you about some of his stories. In many of them it can be seen that Rodari does not hesitate to criticize modern society, which he considers not very supportive and consumerist. Furthermore, his stories are capable of promoting the critical spirit of the little ones through wit and humor.
First readings
Animals without zoo (+ 3 years)
It’s an anthology of short stories full of humor and fantastic animals that have their own lives and desires. Equilibrist elephants, bicycle turtles, photographic foxes, bandit bears and trained horses. A parade of hilarious characters. Fun is guaranteed!
Buying the city of Stockholm by Gianni Rodari (+ 3 years)
“ At the Gavirate market there are some little men who sell everything, and better than them at selling, you don’t know where to find them. One Friday a little man happened to be selling strange things: Mont Blanc, the Indian Ocean, the Seas of the Moon, and he had a wonderful gab, and after an hour he had only the city of Stockholm left. A barber bought her in exchange for a clutched haircut. “
Reverse fairy tales (+ 4 years)
The grandfather tells his granddaughter the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but he is always wrong. Perhaps due to ignorance? “ Once upon a time there was a little girl named Little Red Riding Hood. The little girl went through the woods and met a giraffe… ”.
“But that’s not the story,” says the niece. So, the grandfather has the granddaughter tell how the story actually went. Reverse fables becomes a possibility to improve children’s expressive resources.
Giacomo di Cristallo (+ 5 years)
“ Once, in a distant city, a transparent child was born. Through its limbs it could be seen as through air and water. You could see his heart beating, you could see his thoughts dart like colorful fish in their tank.
[…] Unfortunately, a ferocious dictator came to the government in that country, and a period of bullying, injustice and misery for the people began. Those who dared to protest disappeared without a trace. […] But Giacomo could not be silent ”. Although he did not open his mouth, his thoughts spoke for him: he was transparent and everyone could read through his forehead his thoughts on the injustices and violence of the tyrant. This is a story that speaks to us of the power of truth.
Stories by Gianni Rodari for children and young people
Tales on the phone (+ 7 years)
Fables on the phone is a book made up of stories full of imagination, but at the same time linked to reality. Witty, provocative stories full of humor, fantasy and puns.
“ Once upon a time there was the accountant Bianchi, from Varese. He was a sales representative and six days a week he toured the whole of Italy selling medicines. On Saturday he returned to his house and left on Monday morning.
But before his little girl left, she said to him: “I recommend dad, a story every night.”. So every evening, wherever he was, at nine o’clock the accountant Bianchi called Varese on the phone and told a story to his little girl. “.
Gianni Rodari from A to Z (+ 8 years)
It is a beautiful collection of short verses and stories that make you think, laugh and learn. Gianni Rodari shows us that short stories build the world and that writing is not without play and fantasy.
Why did the bridge collapse where they put “beloved” concrete instead of reinforced concrete? Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaning? Could it be because the architects built it in balance? “ Mistakes are necessary, useful as bread and often beautiful too. “.
The business of Mr. Gatto (+ 8 years)
Can there be anything more luscious than a canned rat? That’s what Mr. Gatto intends to sell in his grocery store. An excellent deal according to the owner. But the mice are not of the same opinion.
The game of the four cantons (+ 9 years)
They are surreal stories, without apparent meaning, full of humor and puns in which the author questions many of the habits of our society. “The cow of Vipiteno” who eats the rainbow, “The young man from Verona” who wanted to marry a red hen, “The pensioner” who by eliminating the diabolical modern toys frees the world from dangers.
Gip in the TV and other stories in orbit by Gianni Rodari (+ 9 years)
It is a collection of stories, overflowing with fantasy and humor, about a boy who has a strong attraction for television. Gip’s “televisite” causes an unknown force to transport him into television. Later, the protagonist will appear in various programs in various countries of the world.
Jasmine in the land of liars (+ 10 years)
A boy named Gelsomino and his friends will face King Giacomone, lord of the land of liars. His realm is based on lies and terror. Telling the truth is a crime and lying is required by law. Whoever tells the truth will be fined. But Jasmine has such a powerful voice that he can destroy entire castles.
So many stories to play (+ 10 years)
Through this book Gianni Rodari wants to teach children to reflect with their own heads on the problems of society and on the difficulties that people have to face. So many stories to play is made up of twenty stories, each with three different endings. The reader reads, observes, thinks and, if he does not find an end he likes, he can invent it, write it or draw it himself. Fun is guaranteed!
Gianni Rodari: The book of errors (+ 10 years)
Through Professor Grammaticus’ nursery rhymes and short stories, Rodari ironically shows us that the world is full of spelling, grammatical and many other errors.
“ Once upon a time there was a young man who dreamed of becoming a great inventor. He studied day and night for several years and eventually wrote a personal diary: “I have already studied enough. I am a MANAGER and I will prove my great worth. ” “.
Machine made short stories (+ 12 years)
This book presents us with 26 different stories with various topics. Overflowing imagination and a sense of humor entertain young readers through an ironic critique of consumer society.
A “wise crocodile” shows up in the television studios to participate in Rischiatutto . The twins Marco and Mirko write an essay on the devil, “The fisherman of Ponte Garibaldi” is angry because the fish do not bite his hooks. This book is also an ironic critique of the consumer society.
The grammar of fantasy
Finally, we present one of the most emblematic books by Gianni Rodari: The grammar of fantasy . It is aimed at parents, educators and anyone who believes that imagination should have a place in teaching. The book tells us how to invent stories for children and helps them invent them for themselves. He introduces us to forty-five techniques that teach us the art of storytelling.
We can only thank Gianni Rodari for the gift he gave us with his books and his work.
