| Geronimo Stilton: Italy's Answer to Harry Potter |
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Italian Mouse Chases the Wizard
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"My mother taught us Italian as children by having us read a paragraph from the Il Progresso newspaper every night after dinner."
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The publishing phenomenon Harry Potter has a new competitor, a furry little creature that speaks Italian and, ironically, is named after a British blue cheese. Italy, home to Topo Gigo, Topolino, and Peppino the Italian Mouse, now adds Geromino Stilton, a children's book character that's a publishing sensation, to their growing menagerie of popular rodents.
Stilton, a mouse who works both as a journalist and amateur sleuth, has sold more than 1.6 million copies in Italy since his first story was published by Edizione Piemme two years ago. The Roman rodent—described as la risposta italiana a Harry Potter—is now closing in on JK Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter series, whose four Italian editions sold a total of 2.7 million copies.
Soon to be a Major Motion Picture
Nowadays, it's not enough just to have a best–selling book, so the character will soon be marketed internationally. The publishing giant Bertelsmann has bought the German rights to Stilton's 34 adventures, and Stilton is getting ready to invade other countries including Belgium, Brazil, France, Japan, Spain, and Turkey. And if Stuart Little can have a film, why not Geronimo Stilton? There are plans for a Geronimo Stilton cartoon, set to be released in 2004.
Huge Hit Among Italian Children
Geronimo lives in Topazia, on the Isola dei Topi (the Island of Mice), where he edits the newspaper L'Eco del Roditore. Parents seem to approve of the character because of his fastidious habits: he's a single non-smoker and a diligent journalist whose only sidekick is an unpredictable secretary who loves the Internet and the latest technological gadgets. In a recent interview with Geronimo Stilton, the mouse, when asked about his broad appeal, replied: "...ma sono graditi a genitori ed educatori, che si sentono rassicurati dal fatto che sono libri 'puliti', in cui non c'è violenza, non c'è volgarità".
Thanks to Stilton's subtle satirical commentary on Italian society the mouse appeals to adults as well. Geronimo Stilton addresses worldly concerns in Il piccolo libro della pace (Little Book of Peace), published by Fondazione per la Lettura il Battello a Vapore after the September 11 attacks on the United States. The book helps teachers and students in conflict resolution and discusses the richness of diversity around the world.
Multimedia Mouse
There are many ways for children to learn more about Geronimo's adventures and interact with the character. All of Geronimo Stilton's books, including such titles as Il fantasma del metrò, Il mistero dell'occhio di smeraldo, Il sorriso di Monna Topisa, and Quattro topi nella giungla nera, can be read online. The Gara di Barzellette per Ragazzi, a contest for children, will be judged by Geromino, and the winners will have their jokes and funny stories published. Visitors to the official Geronimo Stilton Web site can play games, visitor Stilton's office, read previews of the Geromimo's latest adventures, download desktop images, and email the famous mouse.
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