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    Once Upon a Time in Venice
    Once Upon a Time in Venice
    Once Upon a Time in Venice
    Ebook63 pages50 minutes

    Once Upon a Time in Venice

    By Monique Roy

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    About this ebook

    An intriguing, middle-grade chapter book that takes young readers, ages 9-12, on a physical and emotional journey to Venice, Italy.


    This enchanting story revolves around the relationship between Samuelle, a young boy, and his grandfather Leo. Leo has learned that he suffers from a terminal illness, and in his wistful skimming of artifacts from the past, he uncovers treasured mementos of his earliest years growing up in the romantic city of Venice. Sharing them with Samuelle, he infects the boy with an infatuation for the city, one they will both share when Leo decides to accept an invitation to participate in the annual Regatta, a rowing festival that his own great-grandfather had competed in with great success. The two embark on their journey without Samuelle knowing about Leo's illness, but Leo makes a promise to himself that it is in Venice, after he has passed on his knowledge and fondness for the city to his grandson, that he will reveal the truth about his fate. Venice becomes a special place in their hearts forever.


    This beautiful, middle-grade chapter book will show young readers, ages 9-12, the strong impact and importance of family, love, and the community in our lives. Read this preteen book with your kids, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, and you will be instantly transported to the romantic city of Venice, Italy! The vivid descriptions of Venice enliven the story. From the food and the architecture to the art and the magical canals, you are right there in Venice, without the long flight and the icky airplane food! All adventurers wanted: preteen readers are taken on an emotional journey that is educational, sad, sweet and heartwarming, and opens their eyes to geography and cultures.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateFeb 1, 2007
    ISBN9780595860074
    Once Upon a Time in Venice
    Author

    Monique Roy

    Monique Roy was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1975, and grew up in Dallas, Texas, which is still her home. She has always had passion for writing, even as a child. Monique studied journalism at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She loves to travel and has visited Venice, Italy. In fact, it is one of her favorite places on Earth. Once Upon a Time in Venice is Monique's first book for middle-grade readers. She is also the author of Across Great Divides, a World War 2, historical fiction novel.

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    • 5/5
      While this is a short tale, Monique Roy packs quite a lot into it. Grandpa Leo and his grandson Samuelle take a vacation in Venice, a city Leo knows well. Samuelle’s parents are gone and Leo wants him to get to know his Venetian relatives. The city of Venice really shines in this story.I loved the relationship between Leo and Samuelle. Gramps really cares about the boy and takes great joy in showing off his old stomping grounds. Even though Samuelle is young, he soaks it all in. Their combined excitement on this vacation is palpable throughout the story.Leo has a secret he’s been holding back from Samuelle because he wants the lad to enjoy Venice and not be troubled by Leo’s health issues. This made the last quarter of the story really standout. I was worried what Samuelle would do if his gramps passed away, being as young as he is.Meanwhile, Samuelle continues to make friends in Venice. His impromptu explorations of the old Jewish ghetto was interesting. I also liked that Samuelle got to know Leo’s old flame, the one that got away. All these people are scattered throughout Venice and that let’s the author show off her own knowledge of this beautiful and historical city. In the end, it was Venice that captured my heart (sorry Samuelle). 5/5 starsThe Narration: The Narration: Kevin E. Green was a great pick for the narration. He had a great old, slightly gravelly voice for Leo and a great kid voice for Samuelle. He also did Italian accents for all the Venetian natives. His female voice (I believe there was only 1) was believable. There were no recording or technical issues. 5/5 stars

    Book preview

    Once Upon a Time in Venice - Monique Roy

    Contents

    Italian Roots

    Reflections

    Trip of a Lifetime

    Sweet Dreams

    Benissimo

    Regata Storica

    Lost and Found

    Off the Beaten Path

    A Bump in the Road

    Old World, New Friend

    Hope, Love, Faith

    Glossary of Italian Terms

    To my parents, Michael and Nicole—thank you for your endless love,

    inspiration and support.

    The premise of this book is the journey home for young Samuelle

    and Grandpa Leo. One ofthe biggest assets in a person’s life istheir

    home, and I am grateful to have such a wonderful home and foundation.

    One day, when I have my own family, I will make sure our

    home is as special as the one I had growing up.

    Italian Roots

    Tired of tossing and turning, Samuelle surrendered to his restlessness. Giving up on sleep, he wandered downstairs from his room to get a glass of milk. Creeping slowly down the stairway, he was quiet enough so that he wouldn’t wake his grandfather. Near the bottom of the stairs, he saw that the kitchen light was turned on.

    Hello, he whispered, hesitant to continue. Grandpa, is that you? Once before, in the middle of the night, Samuelle had found his grandfather at the kitchen table spooning out chunks of chocolate from a tub of chocolate chip ice cream.

    No answer. He heard someone fumbling in the refrigerator. Sam- uelle turned the corner slowly and saw Grandpa Leo in red and blue plaid pajamas with his head in the refrigerator.

    Grandpa Leo! Samuelle blurted out and giggled as he did so.

    Oh, hello, boy! Grandpa Leo seemed startled. I couldn’t sleep so I was just going to make myself some cheese and crackers. Would you like to join me?

    What are you doing up at this crazy hour? Grandpa Leo asked.

    I couldn’t sleep either, Grandpa Leo, Samuelle said, sounding frustrated. I feel like I have been lying in bed and staring at the walls all night.

    That’s OK, Samuelle, Grandpa Leo said. His big brown eyes beamed wisdom over his tiny spectacles. From time to time, we all experience sleepless nights. When I can’t sleep, I usually try to focus my attention on something else for a while. Come and sit down here. Want some milk?

    Oh, yes, please! They both drank their milk with great thirst and then admired each other’s milk mustaches.

    Wait here, Grandpa Leo said.

    Samuelle smiled as his grandfather rose from the table like a man on a mission. After several minutes of waiting, Grandpa Leo had not returned to the kitchen. Samuelle went to find his grandfather and discovered him rummaging through boxes in a closet.

    I know exactly what I want to show you, Samuelle, but I am having trouble finding it, he said. Would you mind giving me a hand with this old box?

    Samuelle helped his grandfather lift the beat up box off the shelf and onto the blue carpet. When they opened the box, many old photo albums were stacked on top of each other. Samuelle pulled out the albums one-by-one onto the floor.

    That’s it! Grandpa Leo exclaimed. I was looking for that red album.

    Samuelle reached deep into the box and grabbed the dusty red album lying on the bottom of the box. As he was handing the album to Grandpa Leo, a letter fell to the floor. The paper and ink that spelled out beautiful words had faded from time. Samuelle retrieved the letter from the ground and read the date aloud, March 14, 1970.

    My father, your great-grandfather, wrote this letter just a few weeks before he passed away from cancer, Grandpa Leo said. He sent me the letter when I first moved to America. Sit down and let me read the letter to you.

    As Samuelle listened intently, his grandfather read the sentimental words of the letter.

    "My son, Leo, I lie here weak, wishing that time could stand still, but time forces our lives forward. As your mother stands in the kitchen cooking us beautiful, Italian meals that symbolize not only tradition, but also love, I write to you this letter for you to one day show your children and grandchildren. If I must admit one mistake in my life, it would be not taking

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