A sweet little story perfect for late elementary or middle grades. A touch of magic realism, lovely characters, and a charming Italian village setting make it a cozy read. The various story elements connected beautifully and made for a really marvelous story. I think this would be great read aloud to school aged children at bedtime - the chapters are short and there are illustrations. The narrator sounds like a storyteller, and I think hearing it read aloud would add to the ambiance of this story.