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Synopsis
There is an old saying that good things come in small packages. In this story from Italy, storytellers Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss show us that good things also come in furry packages. When a merchant finds himself in a land that is overrun by rats, he realizes that he has the most priceless gift in this country, namely his ship's cats. In this classic tale, we learn that one man's cats are another man's treasure and vice versa.
Children's Literature
Husband and wife storytellers Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss bring to life an Italian folktale set during the glory days of Italy's monopoly of the Spice Islands. The hero of the story, Antonio, leaves Genoa with a ship filled with goods to trade for valuable spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, which could be found only on these islands so far from Europe. When Antonio sits down to eat with a king, he is dismayed to see rats run in to share the feast. "Don't you have any cats on this island?" he asks, but the king has never heard of such an animal. Fortunately, Antonio has several cats on his ship and gives a tabby and a tomcat to the grateful king. In appreciation, the king presents Antonio with a jewel-filled chest. When Antonio returns to Genoa, a rival merchant named Luigi, filled with jealousy, determines to return to the island and shower the king with gifts in hopes of receiving greater treasure in return. The king does share his most precious possession with Luigi—but it is not exactly what the greedy merchant was expecting. Rich, jewel-toned illustrations laced with humor make this engaging tale a perfect introduction to studies of explorers and the spice trade, and will provoke lively discussions about gifts, especially the kind that money can't buy.