On August 28, the Botanical Garden hosts a new event with the book presentation of Piccoli, molto piccoli, piccolissimi (Small, Very Small, Tiny) by illustrator Irene Penazzi, published by HOPI edizioni as part of the Racconti della Natura KIDS series.

Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Drop of Water, the book is also part of the Micromondi series that narrates from the voice of everyday micro-ecosystems that we often overlook.

Piccoli, molto piccoli, piccolissimi (Small, Very Small, Tiny) are beings who love and hate each other. They are creatures who bite and eat each other as they come together and fall apart. They are ferocious but somehow find harmony. Then suddenly a new protagonist as beautiful as the stars enters… almost eating everyone around them! Who is this character? How will the story unfold?

Participation in the event is included in the entrance ticket to the Botanical Garden and will be held outdoors (or moved indoors in case of inclement weather). To participate, online booking is required starting from August 8.

Irene Penazzi is a freelance author and illustrator awarded with national and international recognition, including Special Mention from the 2019 Premio Rodari and 2020 Honor List from the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). She actively collaborates with various Italian and French publishing houses and carries out creative workshops for children, adults, and educators.

The event is organized in celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the University of Padua, as the Botanical Garden offers the Summertime in the Botanical Garden series of events that highlights the University’s dedication to Freedom.  Libera la Natura (Free Nature) offers the public a ‘live’ viewing of the Botanical Garden and its collection, sharing secrets of the plant world from this unique location and UNESCO World Heritage Site.