Spaghetti Park

written and illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo
Picture book, Holiday House, 2002

Angelo’s neighborhood park used to be a great place. Now it’s run down and filled with tough kids. Most people in Angelo’s Italian-American neighborhood avoid it. But Angelo and his grandpa have big plans for the park, and they are determined to make their dream come true.

So when the cleanup crew arrives one morning to find graffiti all over their newly painted benches, the garden is ruined, and garbage everywhere, it’s a crisis. Who will want to fix up the park now?

Luckily, both sympathy and help come from an unexpected source, opening some eyes and some hearts. Optimism and community spirit abound in this warm picture book about neighbors banding together and remembering their roots.

 

 

“Those nostalgic for bocce will enjoy reading aloud to younger generations and bocce rules are even included on the back page. A no-nonsense narrative about sticking with it.”- Kirkus Review