Fanciulli G., Monaci E. La letteratura per l’infanzia [Children’s literature] (1931, 5 ed.). Torino, Milano, Genova, Parma, Roma, Catania: Società Editrice Internazionale, 1926, pp. 150–161.

Giuseppe Fanciulli was one of the most important Italian writers of children’s literature of the first half of the twentieth century, author of numerous successful books including The Little Blue Man (L’omino Turchino, 1911) and Lis-Beth (Lisa-Betta, 1932). The latter, which is one of the best examples of Fanciulli’s poetics, was a great success during the fascist period, although it contained only a slight exaltation of its values (family and rural life). In collaboration with his cousin Enrichetta Monaci Guidotti, he published a study about the history of children’s literature, including authors from ancient times until contemporary times (from France, England, Germany, Nordic countries and Russia). This study also presented books written by well-known Russian writers, next to less renowned authors of fables, fairy tales and tales about animals. Some chapters dealt with Italian literature from its origins to contemporary authors. One of the most interesting aspects is the vision of literature as a mirror of a national feature, also defined as a result of “race” to explain the features and genres of books for children and young people.