A timeless, beautifully illustrated fable about resilience, perseverance, and the greatest lesson of all: knowledge acquires its deepest meaning when it is shared.

When the great Origami Master passes through young Kenji’s village, the boy eagerly asks to become his apprentice. “If you truly want to learn,” the old master replies, “you will need time, patience, and humility.”

Kenji dreams of becoming a celebrated master himself, but years of demanding training teach him that mastering a craft is only part of the journey. It is only when a little girl asks him to become her teacher that he finally understands the true purpose of everything he has learned.

 

Publisher: Terre di Mezzo
Target: 5-7
Year: 2026
Author
Luca Cognolato

Luca Cognolato studied at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice and now teaches Italian and History in the province of Venice. He is the author of several books for children and young adults, including the Basket League series (Einaudi Ragazzi).
Together with Silvia del Francia, he co-wrote The Invisible Hero (Einaudi Ragazzi, 2014) and You Can’t Stop the Wave (Einaudi Ragazzi, 2024).
With the picture book Matilde’s Little Backpack, he won the Silent Book Contest – Gianni De Conno Award.

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