The Year I Didn't Go to School

I like this quirky book about an extremely eccentric family that takes a year out of their life to tour Italy as a four-person theatre troupe of animated puppets. I don't know whether it's rendered more believable or more peculiar by knowing that it's true events from the author's childhood. My very literal grandson complained about the book: the pictures don't always represent the two girls in their proper sizes and the Italian is so rudimentary. "It's like it was written by a child!" Since that effect was the author's intention, it's safe to say that the book is a success. His sister absolutely loved the book. I found it utterly delightful. I love books about puppets, puppetry and theatre and this one is unique. By majority vote, it's show more a keeper. show less

When a young girl travels with her family to Italy to perform theater, she misses an entire year of school. However, she learns and experiences so much while she and her family are traveling, that it's as if she had never left.
This book encourages an adventurous lifestyle while also introducing the Italian culture. Through traveling, you are able to see the world from a different perspective and learn about a wide variety of cultures. The young girl in the book wrote about all the things she experienced and even learned to speak Italian.
The book is based on a true story, which I found to be interesting. The author, herself, wrote that her family performed and were called "The Mystic Paper Beasts." She had also traveled to Italy and show more kept a journal about her adventures. Upon reading this, it made the story more realistic and enjoyable. show less

Gisella didn't attend school for an entire year, instead her family traveled around Italy and performed. They were known as The Mystic Paper Beasts. Giselle writes in her journal about her entire journey, like when she had to go on for her little sister during a performance and couldn't see, and even when her family is save by nuns. The book describes describes foreign food and languages. It's a great book for kids to expose them to different cultures.

Giselle was 7 years old the year she didn't go to school because their tiny theater company was going on tour. Their first show was in Florence but it ended quickly when two policemen came. her parents didn't have a permit to perform. I like this story because it shows how much this family traveled and struggled but, were happy being together and performing.

In this story readers get a chance to experience what it is like to be able to take a year off of school. Potter relives her childhood and how her family went to live in Italy. The family owned their own theatre company called, The Mystic Paper Beasts. The family traveled all over Italy and Potter kept a journal to record all of her experiences. The author uses an interesting style when drawing the pictures in the book. A teacher can read this book to a class when discussing how keeping a journal can benefit you.

Story about a family that goes out on "the road" to Italy to perform as a family act. This story tells of how the two little girls go with their parents and they put on performances in many different places. This would be a good read aloud book, but I worry a little bit about the message at the end that say that the little girl is not excited to go back to school because it seems boring compared to their journey.

Giselle Potter writes about her experience touring with her parents and sister for a year. The trip was not an ordinary trip, because she tours the Italy with her parents theater group as they perform in different parts of Italy. This can expose young minds to the world that is out there.