Title: A New Home for Salvatore
Author: Alfred R. Crudale
Illustrator: Sue Greco
Page Length: 35 pages
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Publisher: Stillwater River Publications
Synopsis: What was it like to immigrate to a new country in the early 1900s? Join Salvatore and his little sister as they leave their small village in Italy and travel to a new home across the Atlantic Ocean.
GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
A new children’s book by Rhode Island author Alfred R. Crudale, A New Home for Salvatore is a charming and hopeful story about new beginnings, family, and more. Told from the perspective of a young boy named Salvatore, the story follows him, his mother, and his younger sister as they prepare to leave their home in Italy to meet his father in the United States, where they will live. Written in a simple and engaging style, the narrative is rich with history and culture.
The author is a fellow Rhode Islander and Italian, so I felt quite connected to the story. It reminded me of stories my grandfather used to tell me about his experiences when he first left Italy and moved to Rhode Island when he was a kid. He, too, talked of the people and things he missed while also being excited and hopeful when he first arrived.
The illustrations are a lovely complement to the story and depict the various settings in a simplistic yet vivid way. From their small village to the bustling city of Naples to their journey aboard a ship bound for America, the artist’s style and use of color immerse the reader into Salvatore’s world.
I really enjoyed this read. It’s definitely one to check out if you’re looking for a children’s book with great messages, an innocent and hopeful point of view, and original artwork.
- The illustrations
- The story
- The messages
Author: Alfred R. Crudale grew up in the Knightsville neighborhood of Cranston, Rhode Island. He taught Italian and Spanish for thirty years in the Warwick School Department in Rhode Island. He presently teaches Italian at the University of Rhode Island and Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts. He and his wife Barbara live on their small farm in West Kingston, where they raise goats and chickens.
Illustrator: A Rhode Island independent art teacher, Sue Greco has been instructing watercolor since 2015. Her workshops have taken her throughout the northeastern United States. In 2017 Sue published her first book, Kids Best Watercolor Lessons followed by More Watercolor Lessons. A New Home for Salvatore is the ninth children’s book she has illustrated. Visit http://www.suegrecopaints.com for more information.
