Samba in Italy

Pack your pets and your passports—Paul Yanuziello and Joshua Miller’s Samba in Italy is the perfect literary destination for animal lovers and kids who dream of exploring the world. Set on Halloween night in Matera, Italy, this is a transatlantic treat that provides a fun introduction to some basic Italian phrases and a taste of the country’s treats and traditions.

Ariela, Mario, and Mario’s adorable Bernese Mountain puppy, Samba, gear up for the best Halloween yet. But once they’re in costume, they discover a candy trail scattered across the cobblestone streets . . . and they can’t help but follow it. Someone has left this candy trail for them, and Samba, already dressed up as a detective, is more than ready to lead the hunt. And so begins a delightful tale that blends friendship, curiosity, and mystery, all wrapped up in a Halloween adventure as sweet as the treats themselves.

Paired with bright, expressive illustrations, Samba in Italy is especially well suited to younger children who prefer magic and whimsy over spooky Halloween frights. Miller’s artwork brings Matera’s winding streets, festive costumes, and Halloween excitement vividly to life, adding an extra layer of charm to every page. Young readers will be instantly swept along on a magical, mysterious adventure, without even realizing it’s educational, too. Most characters speak both English and Italian, uttering phrases in both languages so the translation is baked seamlessly into the dialogue. A helpful appendix also offers a pronunciation glossary and some fun facts about Italy to extend the learning experience. Despite its short length, little ones have plenty to learn here.

But the learning doesn’t stop there. Yanuziello peppers the pages with snippets of information about dogs, and Samba’s breed specifically, which makes Samba feel like a family pet you’ve known all your life. Warm, friendly, and equipped with the clue-sniffing instincts of Scooby-Doo himself, Samba is the perfect guide for this story.

While the overall tale is sweet, the mystery occasionally becomes less clear than it could be for younger readers. Some of the vocabulary may prove challenging for the book’s youngest audience, and simplifying a few passages could help maintain attention and momentum throughout.

Still, Samba’s adorable detective costume is an irrefutable delight, and children are sure to love the mermaid and astronaut outfits worn by the cousins, too. Like The Creature Cases and Octonauts, Samba in Italy makes teaching kids engaging and fun—and parents might just learn a thing or too as well. A warm, educational romp through one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, this is a Halloween treat worth following all the way to the final clue.

—CANREADS BOOK REVIEW

Published by PNJ Services

Amazon

www.paulyanuziello.com

Instagram