Country
Italy

Tale typology
Intercultural traditions

Age Suitability
Suitable for 4-7 years old children

Tale summary
Biscottino is a gnome who lives in a forest inside a tree. It is not a normal tree but it is a pancake tree. One night a child whose name is Marmocchio, knocks at the door of pancake tree. Marmocchio is very hungry and very cold. Biscottino lets Marmocchio get inside his home and he decides to give to his new friend two pancakes: one to be eaten and the second one to warm his hands. Biscottino brings Marmocchio up to the stairs in order to let him see the top of the tree. When they arrive near the sky, Biscottino hears someone crying: it is a star because it has lost his son. Marmocchio is star’s son. Marmocchio finds his mother.

Educational potential / Learning Outcomes
In this story there are important values: solidarity, love for the others, hospitality. The story focuses on the child with his needs, fears and fragilities. This story offers an important idea to generate thoughts and reflections about hospitality, solidarity.

Full Plot
The main character is Biscottino. He is a gnome and he lives in a pancake tree.
Marmocchio is a child. He is cold and very hungry. He gets lost in the forest.
He is a kind and helpful gnome, always ready to help the others.
Marmocchio is a very curious child and he is very adventurous.
The story takes place in a fantastic forest in winter at Christmas night. The story helps children to understand the seasonal changes. The “forest of dreams” helps children to make a distinction between fantasy and reality. Children have drawn “Tree of forms”, “Tree of colours”, “Tree of words”, “Tree of seeds”,..

One Lesson Plan
Teachers have preferred manipulative activities(children cook pancakes) and children have made a “forest of dreams”: each child has made each own tree of dreams. This activity helps children to develop fantasy and creativity.
Teachers make a video with children’s drawings and with vocal message where they tell about the tree of dreams they have chosen.