"Bruno. The Boy Who Learned to Fly" by Nadia Terranova, illustrated by Ofra Amit

The touching story of the Polish artist comes to life in Italian through the pages of this illustrated book inspired by the life of Polish writer Bruno Schulz

"Bruno. The Boy Who Learned to Fly" was written by Nadia Terranova and illustrated by, an Israeli illustrator, Ofra Amit. It was released in Italian bookstores on the 11th of January, 2012. The book's publication is being promoted with a series of events and meetings with the author through the first week of February

This poetic book is dedicated to and inspired by the life of author Bruno Schulz - the Polish poet and artist of Jewish heritage who was shot by the Gestapo during World War II. 

On a cold autumn evening. Bruno Schulz is again a child. His mother enters the room and finds the boy, as he tries to feed the flies with grains of sugar. Surprised, she asks him what he was doing. He replies, "I am strengthening the flies before winter". 

Never mind whether it is true or not, the anecdote told by David Grossman shows the tragedy of a little boy who lived and dreamed his brilliant epoch with no idea that the darkest era in the history of mankind was about to come down on the happy world of his childhood. While the book tells the tragic story of one of the greatest Polish writers, is not only addressed to the adult reader.
The author Terranova explains, 

There is practically nothing that one cannot tell children, and postponing the truth about major topics is not only useless but even harmful to children. I used a simple style without endearing terms or childish words. I described Bruno Schulz’s death as I always imagined it: a sudden emptiness and "plop", and then the unexpected sprouting of wings.

Italian readers are familiar with Bruno Schulz, mainly from his two volumes of short stories that have appeared under the title "Le botteghe color cannella" and "Il sanatorio all'insegna della clessidra".

Nadia Terranova (born 1978 in Messina) – translator, editor, publisher. Together with Patricia Rinaldi wrote "Caro diario ti scrivo", a story about six twelve-years old teenagers, who would become known writers, among them are Anna Maria Ortese and Jane Austen.

Ofra Amit (born 1976) – Israeli artist, lives in Tel Aviv. Illustrates mostly for magazines, newspapers and children’s books. Awards such as: 2004 Communication Arts Illustration Annual, 2004 Applied Arts Illustration Annual, Bologna Children's books Fair 2005 - the Andersen Contest, Honorable mention of the Ben Yitzhak Award for children's book illustration 2006, Illustrators 48 - The Society of Illustrators 2006, Gold Medal for Children’s Books Illustrations - Israeli Museum.

On January 26, 2012 at the Libreria Europea bookstore in Rome (Via Savoia 13/15) the book was officially presented by Nadia Terranova, Ofra Amit, Francesco M. Cataluccia and Jarosław Mikołajewski (Director of the Polish Institute in Rome). During the meeting the animated film based on the story of Bruno Schults "Street of Crocodiles" by Stephen and Timothy Quay inspired by Bruno Schulz’s was screened.

On January 27, 2012 on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Ofra Amit presenteed and signed copies of the book at the Galleria Tricromia in Rome (Via di Panico 35).

An exhibition featuring the illustrations of Ofra Amit is on display from the 15th of January till the 5th of February 2012 at the Galleria Tricromia in Rome (Via di Panico 35).

Source: www.http://foolsjournals.wordpress.com, http://www.istitutopolacco.it/, http://www.wuz.it

• Nadia Terranova
"Bruno. Il bambino che imparò a volare"
Illustrations: Ofra Amit
Publisher: Orecchio Acerbo Editore, 2012 - premiere 11 January 2012
210 x 305, hardcover
ISBN 978-88-96806-23-4