Books About Italian Americans

The Best Italian Americans Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about italian americans? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 9 Favorite Books About Italian Americans

Penny from Heaven
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2006

Penny from Heaven

By Jennifer L. Holm

Penny's summer plans unravel amid family tensions and past prejudices.

Newbery Honor (2007)
304 pages· 46,792 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 9,952 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1953, Penny dreams of a carefree summer filled with ice cream and baseball. But her plans are thwarted by her mother's fear of polio, a favorite uncle living in a car, and a family divided by past prejudices. As Penny navigates these challenges, she discovers unexpected ways to bring her family together. Set in post-war America, this heartfelt tale explores the bonds that both divide and unite us, revealing the extraordinary within the everyday. Can Penny find harmony amidst the chaos and heal the rifts in her family?
The Truth About Triangles
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024

The Truth About Triangles

By Michael Leali

A boy tries to save his family's failing pizzeria as his family and friendships fall apart.

336 pages
4.2 Goodreads · 243 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Twelve-year-old Luca Salvatore is always caught in the middle: between his twin siblings, in his parents' troubled marriage, and between his best friend June and Will, the new boy and Luca's first crush. When his favorite cooking show calls for entries, Luca is sure getting the family pizzeria on TV will save it and bring his family together. But when the plan goes wrong, he has to find a new recipe for fixing things.
Henry and the Kite Dragon
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2004

Henry and the Kite Dragon

By Bruce Edward Hall, William Low (Illustrator)

Kids from two rival neighborhoods clash over homemade kites until they finally come face to face.

40 pages· 1,971 words· Est. 16 min read-aloud
4.3 Goodreads · 221 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1920s New York, kids from Chinatown stay out of the park when the kids from Little Italy are there. Henry loves helping his friend Grandfather Chin build kites and fly them over the neighborhood, but Tony Guglione and his friends keep throwing rocks and wrecking them. When Henry and his friends decide enough is enough, the two groups finally come face to face, in a story based on true events.
Peppe the Lamplighter
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1993

Peppe the Lamplighter

By Elisa Bartone, Ted Lewin (Illustrator)

A boy's lamplighter job defies his father's dreams but becomes crucial one fateful night.

Caldecott Honor (1994)
32 pages· 1,186 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
4.1 Goodreads · 1,885 ratings
Hardcover
Summary: In turn-of-the-century New York, young Peppe takes a job as a lamplighter to support his struggling immigrant family. His father disapproves, questioning if this was the American dream. But when Peppe's nightly task unexpectedly saves his little sister, the job's true value is revealed. Can Peppe earn his father's respect and illuminate more than just the streets of Little Italy? Discover how a simple job becomes a beacon of hope and family unity in this touching tale of resilience and redemption.
A Bandit's Tale
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

A Bandit's Tale

By Deborah Hopkinson

Sold by his parents, an immigrant boy learns to steal on New York's streets.

304 pages· 57,408 words· Est. 8 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 367 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Eleven-year-old Rocco is an Italian immigrant left alone in 1880s New York City after his parents sell him to a padrone. Working as a street musician, he falls in with the boys of the infamous Bandits' Roost, who teach him to pick pockets, but a life of crime and a mistreated horse force him to choose who he wants to be.
A Picnic in October
Sale price
$958
Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 1999

A Picnic in October

By Eve Bunting, Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

A boy discovers the true meaning behind a family tradition.

32 pages· 1,266 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
4.0 Goodreads · 262 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Tony dreads the annual trip to Liberty Island, dismissing it as a pointless tradition. But as he learns the significance of the Statue of Liberty to his grandmother, he begins to see the celebration in a new light. What hidden stories and emotions will Tony uncover about his family's past and their connection to this iconic symbol of freedom? Join Tony on a journey of discovery and understanding, where history and personal legacy intertwine, revealing the profound impact of heritage and memory.
Pasta Girls
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

Pasta Girls

By Taylor Tracy

Daughters of two feuding restaurant families become friends during their busiest week.

336 pages· 72,443 words· Est. 10 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 122 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Hot-headed Romea "Ro" Marino is starting ninth grade, and the only place she feels calm is her family's kitchen. During the Feast of San Gennaro, the busiest week of the year for the Italian restaurants of New York City, she gets to know a girl from the rival restaurant family hers has feuded with for years. Their friendship, and the feelings that grow with it, test both families in this queer, neurodiverse spin on Romeo and Juliet.
Becoming Joe DiMaggio
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2002

Becoming Joe DiMaggio

By Maria Testa, Scott Hunt (Illustrator)

A boy learns life lessons from his grandfather amidst baseball dreams and immigrant challenges.

64 pages
3.6 Goodreads · 125 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1936, young Joseph Paul, named after a legendary ballplayer, grows up under the guidance of his Italian grandfather, Papa-Angelo. As the Yankees' new star captivates the nation, Joseph learns about hope, dreams, and the immigrant experience. With each gripping poem, discover the timeless bond between a grandson and his grandfather, and the journey of finding one's place in a new world. Will Joseph's dreams soar like the baseball heroes he admires?
Lucy Fights the Flames
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Lucy Fights the Flames

By Julie Gilbert, Alessia Trunfio (Illustrator) · Book #7 in the Girls Survive series

A factory fire traps Lucy, forcing her to fight for survival.

103 pages· 12,884 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 187 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In 1911 New York, fourteen-year-old Lucy Morelli dreams of college, but her family's survival depends on her factory job. When a fire breaks out, locked doors trap Lucy and her friend Rosie inside. As flames engulf the building, Lucy must find a way to escape and save Rosie. Will she overcome the deadly inferno, or will her dreams be consumed by the blaze? Discover the harrowing true events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in this gripping tale of courage and survival.
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Books about family problemsBooks about identityBooks about secrets