Readings.com.au: Davide Cali

Piano Piano

Every child has to do something they don’t want to do at some stage. In David Cali and Eric Heliot’s internationally acclaimed picture book about three generations and an upright, young Marcolino who doesn’t want to practice the piano.

An entertaining and quirky work by two of Europe’s most popular creators of books for younger children, Piano Piano is about finding your passion, no matter if that passion strays from the norm.

A Dad Who Measures Up

What makes a dad ideal? Is he strong as a wrestler, or handsome as a movie star? Is he intelligent or sporty? Or is he just good at jigsaw puzzles and have lots of hair? One little girl is about to find out, in this funny, charming and ultimately moving story of her search for a dad who can measure up to the mummy she loves. Written by the winner of France's prestigious Baobab Award, Davide Cali, one of Europe's most innovative writers for children, and illustrated by Anna-Laura Cantone, twice included in the Bologna Children's Book fair illustration competition. This Wilkins Farago edition marks its first publication into English anywhere in the world.

I Love Kissing You

The most romantic gift book of 2008. Created by Davide Cali and Serge Bloch, the award-winning team behind The Enemy, this is a celebration of that most pleasurable and romantic human activity: the kiss. A picture book for grown-ups, I Love Kissing You relates the history of a relationship through its more memorable kisses: from the momentous first kiss to those stolen in the kitchen, on stairs or in elevators, to those in more exotic locations. Warm, funny and down-to-earth, the book features Serge Bloch's elegantly simple illustrations throughout, and is sumptiously clothbound and jacketed in a special narrow B+ format. This Wilkins Farago edition marks its first publication into English anywhere in the world.

The Enemy: A Fable of Peace and Understanding

A moving and poetic meditation on the big questions in life in the tradition of The Little Prince, this contemporary picture book speaks to both adults and older children. Set in a war that could be any war, a soldier tells of his loneliness, fears and deprivation. The wonderful artwork features photographic collage and simple line drawings. Age 8+

I Like Chocolate

Can you remember the allure of chocolate when you were a child? With Easter on its way, every child is focused on it, and Davide Cali’s delicious and funny picture book is a celebration of chocolates of all kinds through a child’s eyes. It savours the different shapes and sizes, colours and flavours; all the different ways it can be eaten and the occasions it’s perfect for (including saying sorry to Mum for breaking her best vase). The ultimate celebration of our most guilty pleasure.

Santa's Suit

This hilarious, original and thoroughly modern tale of Santa Claus will delight both children and adults. Already a bestseller in France, the book tells the story of Santa, who finds he has forgotten to clean his suit ahead of his Christmas delivery round—and finds the washing machine is broken! The suit is too dirty to wear on such an important night, so his dog Bobo comes to the rescue, armed with notes from a sewing program he’s seen on TV.